Want a new car? A bigger house?
An earlier retirement? Make your own financial plan right here.
1. Talk to your spouse
Most couples never talk to each other about their financial goals. If you’re in a relationship, before you roll up your sleeves and dig into the numbers, talk to your spouse about what you want to accomplish. “Have a brief conversation about goals, values, and what kind of lifestyle you want,” says Karin Mizgala, chief executive officer of Money Coaches Canada, a national network of fee-only financial experts based in Vancouver. “That’s key to a good start.”
Action step #1: Click here to find 10 worksheets in the “MoneySense financial plan kit.” There is a PDF version of each worksheet that you can download and print out if you want to fill in the sheets with a pencil or pen. There is also a Microsoft Word version you can fill out on your computer. Print out “Worksheet 1-Prioritize your goals” for this step. You and your spouse should fill this sheet out separately, then compare the results when you’re done.
2. Figure out where you’re at Before you start worrying about where you want to go, you first have to figure out where you are now. In this step you’ll create a net worth statement, which is essentially an honest measure of your current wealth. You do this by tallying up the value of what you own (your assets) and what you owe (your liabilities). When you subtract your liabilities from your assets, you get a number that represents your net worth. Your net worth statement is an important tool that charts your financial progress over the years. For instance, if your net worth is going down, you’re eroding your wealth and making it harder to achieve your goals. If it’s increasing, you’re on your way to getting richer and achieving your financial goals.
Action step #2: Determine your net worth. Print out “Worksheet 2-Gather your documents.” It’s a checklist to help you pull together what you’ll need before you start, including bank statements, credit card statements, and life insurance polices. Once you have all your documents in front of you, you’re ready to fill out “Worksheet 3-Your net worth statement.” First list the values of all of your assets, including your home, your cars, your cash and investments. Then list your liabilities, including credit card debts, your mortgage and any other outstanding loans. Tally both your assets and your liabilities and transfer those amounts to the following section, your simplified net worth statement.
Finally, subtract your liabilities from your assets to discover your true net worth. This shorter net worth statement gives a clear snapshot of exactly where you stand today.
3. Track your spending The key to building a strong financial plan for the future is to understand how much you spend and save right now. This is called tracking your cash flow, and it can give you a sense of control and confidence that makes it easier to make financial changes in your life.
Personally, I’ve kept a small journal tracking my spending for years because it helps me modify my behaviour if my spending gets out of control. It’s not always easy, but it works.
“The part most people dread is taking a really close look at their expenses,” says Mizgala. “But don’t put it off. Successfully managing cash flow is your key to financial control. It will give you an awareness that has more long-term value than anything you can invest in, buy or sell.”
The point of the exercise is to find out whether you finish each year with a cash surplus or a cash deficit. This number will tell you a lot about your general financial shape. A surplus means you’re living within your means, while a deficit shows you’re spending more than you make. If you have a deficit, you will have to cut your expenses (or increase your income) to achieve any financial goals.
What do most people find after doing this exercise? “They’re shocked,” says Mizgala. “It’s a very revealing exercise, mainly because if you have a family with two spouses with debit and credit cards, it’s hard to really see the complete financial picture unless you write it down. This awareness allows you to set up a system for the household.”
Action step #3: Record your cash flow. Fill out “Worksheet 4-Your spending and savings.” It shows what money is coming in (wages, interest, government benefits) and what’s flowing out (rent, debt payments, utility bills). Fill in all your monthly expenses in column 1 and your annual expenses in column 2. (You can leave column 3, the estimate for your future spending in retirement for a later date.)
Tally up your expenses in both columns and subtract them from total net income on both a monthly and yearly basis. The result is your cash flow deficit or surplus.
A good way to approach this exercise is to start with your regular monthly after-tax income and subtract the bills that don’t change month to month, such as rent or mortgage payments. If you don’t know the exact numbers, put in averages for things like groceries, gas or children’s activities. Then add in expenses that only come up a few times a year, such as travel, car repairs and gym fees. Estimate a total for these and divide it by 12, and put that figure in the monthly column of your worksheet. You may not pay the bills in 12 monthly installments but imagine you are setting money aside each month so that you have the total amount when the bill comes due.
4. Adjust your Look closer. Are your expenses higher than your income? If so, you’re living beyond your means. You’ll need to adjust your expenses accordingly so you don’t go further into debt.
This step is not about punishing yourself or laying blame. If you’d rather eat out four times a week than buy a cottage in 10 years, that’s your choice. But you owe it to yourself to be honest about what you’re doing so you’re not wondering why you can’t reach your financial goals.
If you decide to cut back, there are some less painful ways of doing it. Consider renegotiating your mortgage to a lower rate or cutting out one major expense completely. A close friend of mine cut the $5,000 annual family vacation and substituted a couple of long weekends of camping instead. It saves his family $4,000 annually.
If you have a cash surplus, congratulations. You can start allocating money to meet your goals right away.
Action step #4: Compare your spending to your goals. Take a second look at “Worksheet 1-Prioritize your goals” and “Worksheet 4-Your spending and savings.” The idea here is to look at how well your current spending habits mesh with your goals. If you have a cash flow deficit you won’t be able to meet your goals, so you’ll have to see if you can free up cash by cutting back your spending in areas that are less important to you.
For instance, if you have a $5,000 a year deficit on Worksheet 4 and one of your goals is to go on a $4,000 family vacation to Britain in four years, you need to figure out a way to cut $6,000 a year from your spending. You could try using only one car and taking public transit to work. Such a cut could save you $6,000 a year in vehicle costs, allowing you to both balance your budget and reach your travel goal.
5. Set your life goals Financial goals don’t just happen. You make them happen. This step requires you to assess where you want to be five, 10 and 20 years from now and answer some big questions, such as where you want to live in retirement and when you want to stop working.
One tip is to visualize what your life will be like 10 years from now if you do everything right. The truth is when they picture their future lives, very few people see themselves in a $10- million house in Hawaii. Most people’s goals are more realistic, such as keeping up their current standard of living in retirement (with maybe a few upgrades), preventing any financial disasters, and having the freedom to do the things they love, such as spending more time with friends and family.
“Think of what type of life you want in the future and how you are going to organize your life right now to get it,” says Mizgala. “Your job is to structure your finances so you can achieve your vision.”
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Seven tips on how to save more money
 |
| the Piggy Bank Factor |
1. Start saving early. The payoff for starting to save early is substantial. A 25-year-old who puts aside $500 a month for 20 years (for a total of $120,000), at 5-per-cent compounding interest, will wind up with $540,448 at age 65. That’s 33 per cent more savings than a 45-year-old who puts aside $1,000 per month for 20 years (for a total of $240,000) and winds up with $407,378 at age 65. Such is the power of compounding – the strongest argument there is for starting to save early.
2. Create a budget and control your spending. If you have a budget, you tend to spend within your means and save more. Monitor your spending for a month or so, tracking your financial statements and receipts. Doing so will determine what you’re spending your money on and help you identify where you can cut costs to find the savings you need for retirement.
3. Set financial goals and monitor your progress regularly. Your goal could be as simple as wanting to save $50 a week. Write it down and use your budget to track your progress each month.
4. Sign up for your company’s pension plan. If your employer offers any sort of group RSP or pension, sign up immediately. It’s free money. Even if you think the job is temporary, you never know what will happen. The contributions come out automatically, so you won’t even miss the money and you’ll learn to live on what’s left.
5. Make full use of tax-favoured investment vehicles. If you put $100 in your RRSP, you generate a tax refund. You can take that refund and put it toward your debts. It’s the best of both worlds.
6. Set up an automatic savings program. This can easily be done at any financial institution or bank website. Automatically divert some money into a savings account monthly. Once that money is out of sight, it will be out of mind and you’ll be less likely to spend it.
7. Seek out financial help early. When you’re suffering from information overload, a financial adviser can help you determine which investment products are appropriate for you and help you establish a savings routine.
Singer Shankar Mahadevan declares “Shweta Subram” as winner
 |
| Shweta Subram |
Singing sensation Shweta Subram is quickly making her mark on the Bollywood platform by performing at the IIFA Awards with Salim Sulaiman and now by blowing away Shankar Mahadevan with her vocal talent.
Shweta was selected as a winner in a global online singing competition created by his online music school, the Shankar Mahadevan Academy.
Thousands of talented contestants entered from around the world. Shweta was amongst the top 30 finalists. Shankar Mahadevan personally went through each of the top 30 finalists and selected 3 adult winners and 3 kids winners.
Shweta sang the song Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya for this competition. She made it through the top 30 and was eventually selected as a winner by Shankar Mahadevan.
Through this victory, she will receive a personal 1 on 1 musical training from Shankar himself, a certificate from Shankar Mahadevan Academy, and promotion on Shankar Mahadevan and Shankar Mahadevan Academy fan pages.
Shweta Subram is one of Canada’s finest vocalists. Her focus is Urban and Bollywood music. Shweta has performed across the world, shared the stage with elite names in Bollywood, featured in various TV shows and advertisments in India, and was awarded the as the Best Singer in North America by Sangam KalaGroup. After releasing her debutsong Jee Le Live Life, Shweta performed with Bollywood maestros Salim-Sulaiman at the prestigious IIFA awards. Born in Dubai, schooled in Ottawa, and now based in Toronto, she is trained by prominent gurus of Hindustani and Carnatic music styles in India.
Mausam screenings cancelled at TIFF
Mausam (Seasons of Love), a story about star-crossed Indian lovers and the directorial debut of noted Indian actor Pankaj Kapoor, has been withdrawn from the Toronto International Film Festival lineup.
TIFF officials announced Tuesday September 13 that all screenings and the press conference for the anticipated film — which had earned one of the festival’s prestigious gala spots — have been cancelled.
“We are extremely disappointed that the studio has informed us that the film will not have received the necessary regulatory approvals in India, forcing us to cancel all screenings of Mausam,” TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey said in a statement.
Mausam tells the story of a Punjabi Hindu named Harry (Shahid Kapoor) who falls in love with Aayat, a beautiful Muslim girl from Kashmir (Sonam A. Kapoor) in rural Punjab. Though romance blossoms between the two, a variety of forces prevent them from being together.
Producers received special permission from the Indian Air Force to shoot scenes of the film at Gwalior airbase, as Kapoor plays an Air Force pilot.
As part of the deal, movie studio Eros International Media Limited agreed to give the IAF final approval on Mausam before it submitted the movie to the Indian film board for official certification.
In Mausam, Shahid Kapoor portrays an Indian Air Force pilot. To shoot scenes at India’s Gwalior airbase, producers agreed to give the IAF final say on the film before it was submitted to the Indian film board. TIFF According to Indian media reports, the IAF has objected to a dramatic aerial sequence featuring Kapoor in a fighter jet and is withholding approval until edits are made.
“We are very disappointed not to be able to present the world premiere of Mausam in Toronto and accept full responsibility for our absence,” said Mausam producer Sheetal Talwar, who added that the entire team offers its “deepest apologies to our audience in Toronto.”
In recent years, TIFF has helped increase the profile of Indian cinema by hosting the world premieres of prominent Indian films and holding special festival-related talks and panels featuring Indian filmmakers and stars.
“Toronto audiences have been powerful champions for the promotion and growth of Indian cinema abroad and it’s a shame that our festival audiences will be left disappointed,” Bailey said.
It’s the latest setback for Mausam. In August, a U.K. launch event for the film’s soundtrack — slated to feature performances by the two stars — was cancelled because of the London riots. The film opened in theatres across India on September 16.
Tips for writing a good resume
Gone are the days of simply mailing your resume, receiving a call, shaking hands at the interview and agreeing on a start date for that new job.
Job hunting is a tough task. Some people are fortunate to land their dream job in a few days while others wait for months. Regardless of the employer however, it is generally expected that you provide a resume to apply for a position.
If you’re like the majority of the population, writing a resume is a daunting thought. Where do you start? How do you make it look professional? What do you include? The whole process often becomes overwhelming when it doesn’t need to be. These are a few simple tips to keep in mind when writing a resume:
Compile a List of Important work & Personal Info
Resumes include your basic information (name, address, contact information), work history, education, skills/characteristics, and hobbies. Take a few moments to recall your last 3-5 jobs, highest levels of education along with graduation dates (if less than 10 years ago), and some of your best qualities. As you create your resume, all the information you need should be included for your reference.
Choose a Unique Format for Your Resume
The majority of employers have seen the basic MS Word template come across their desk hundreds of times. Choose a unique format or less commonly used format to make your resume stand out. Incorporate appropriate creative elements such as a unique, but still readable text, patterned background or paper, and graphics. Take into consideration the job you are seeking to help you determine what is deemed appropriate (ie. Use graphics or design elements if applying for a graphics related position).
Also, it may be helpful to look at templates of different types of resumes and layouts. For example, a job listing that places emphasis on educational requirements for the position calls for a resume that lists your relevant education and course listing to be displayed first with work experience and character traits to follow.
Use Formal Language
Many people make the mistake of using slang, lazy expressions, poor grammar and spelling errors or informal speech in their resume. Unfortunately, most potential employers will pass over your resume if it contains poorly written content. Formal language does not mean using long, hard to pronounce words, but rather refers to a professional tone generally one step above how you speak.
If it sounds like something you would express to a good friend in a conversation, text or email, chances are, you need to raise the bar a notch.
Avoid Using Months in Your Work History
A detailed work history should be listed in your resume that includes the years you worked for a company. In most cases, including months in your work history may hurt your chances of getting an interview especially if there have been gaps in your employment.
Resume experts recommend listing only the years you worked to highlight your skills, duties performed and positions rather than any gaps that exist in your employment. It also forces the employer to ask further questions if necessary, at your interview—the first stage you want to achieve.
Develop Resumes to Suit the Jobs You Apply For
Creating one resume is often difficult enough but once you have a solid resume to work from, you will find it easier to create new ones to suit specific jobs. Most job postings have attached job profiles and qualities listed that the employer is looking for in an employee. Be sure to highlight any relevant information in your resume based on the job profile and discard any unnecessary or irrelevant information.
Also look at the requirements listed for the job. For instance, if the position requires you have a forklift operator’s license, listing your training courses in proper wine service would not be relevant but your First Aid certificate might be worth mentioning. Whether you are applying for an entry-level position or the corner office dream job it is vital that you have at least one working resume that you can use. Developing a solid resume will take some effort but with a little patience and some planning you’ll have a great resume that will get you noticed in the job market.
Finding Job Leads
a) Make a list of 50 people you know and ask each one if they know someone who works (or has worked) at that employer.
b) Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals.
c) Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn.com or Facebook.
d) Create a free Twitter.com account and “follow” friends and post requests for help.
e) Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers.
f) Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors.
Four ways to find an extra hour in every day
 |
| Tick Tick Tick |
Some days we would give our kingdom for just 60 more minutes to get one more hour of sleep. Enjoy the sunshine for a little bit longer. Put the laundry away. Finish reading that book. Get more work done so tomorrow isn’t so stressful.
When we stumbled across four surefire ways to be more efficient with our time, we had to share. See it they
work for you!
Go to bed earlier at night
Studies show that the chronically underslept (for some of us, that could mean getting six or fewer hours most nights of the week) don’t perform as well as the better rested among us. The reason you’re low on time could be because you get a slow start in the morning and are sluggish throughout the day. When we sleep more, we accomplish more and our perspective is often different too. If we feel physically better, we might be okay with not getting to everything on our to-do list in a day.
Coordinate your efforts
Do you find yourself constantly criss-crossing town to get to all your errands? Instead of picking up one or two things after work each night and finishing the rest on the weekend, be strategic. Make a list of everything you need to do in a week and plan to get to it all at once rather than in drips and drabs. Take advantage of your Smartphone or GPS by mapping out a route that doesn’t see you double back so you can use your time most efficiently. Better yet: find a way to offload, er, delegate some of it.
Stop social networking
There is nothing more time sucking than Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Have you ever been able to just “take a quick peek” without losing the better part of an hour? If you’re low on time but active online, you might have to reset your priorities and take a hiatus for awhile. People who take a break from their virtual life find that they don’t miss it as much as they thought they would and that their stress is actually reduced. Bonus: you will find yourself with some extra time to unwind at the end of the day.
Meditate/exercise
It’s tough to be efficient when we lack focus. Taking as little as five minutes a day to meditate or just clear your head and breathe can help you shift your focus and spend time on what’s truly important without getting caught up in all those little time-wasters. Getting the heart pumping and endorphins flowing through exercise also clears the head and helps you concentrate on the task at hand, making it go more swiftly.
Weekly Recipe: Cassava Pone
Sometimes, just plain boiled cassava could get boring. A delicious dessert made with cassava that is always welcomed is the cassava pone. It is so popular that it is the first dessert to sell out at bake sales. This dessert has a consistency almost like bread pudding.
The origin of this dish is somewhat lost in time, but it seems to have great bearings from our Amerindian heritage; it would be nice if any other Trinidadian who knows more about this dish could throw some light on its history. This tasty dessert does not have much sugar as you may notice, most of its sweetness comes from the provision, pumpkin and coconut. So not only does it taste great, but it is also healthy for you.
Ingredients:
2 cups peeled, shredded yucca (cassava, manioc)
1 cup coconut, shredded
1 1/4 cups sugar (or evaporated cane juice, if available)
1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
5 tablespoons vegetable oil (canola or other neutral oil)
1 cup coconut, rice, cow, or soy milk
1/4 cup filtered water
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Peel and shred the yucca. Sometimes yucca can be found frozen, already peeled. Also, remember that yucca is poisonous if it is not cooked all the way through. You can shred it by hand with a box grater, or in a food processor with the shredder blade.
- Mix all ingredients together well in a large bowl.
- Place mixture in a well-oiled 8 x 13 baking pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
- Once it starts getting crispy golden colored on top and edges, it is almost done. Check at one hour. All ovens cook differently, so watch for the color change to gauge done-ness.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before slicing into brownie-sized wedges.
The origin of this dish is somewhat lost in time, but it seems to have great bearings from our Amerindian heritage; it would be nice if any other Trinidadian who knows more about this dish could throw some light on its history. This tasty dessert does not have much sugar as you may notice, most of its sweetness comes from the provision, pumpkin and coconut. So not only does it taste great, but it is also healthy for you.
Ingredients:
 |
| Cassava Pone |
1 cup coconut, shredded
1 1/4 cups sugar (or evaporated cane juice, if available)
1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
5 tablespoons vegetable oil (canola or other neutral oil)
1 cup coconut, rice, cow, or soy milk
1/4 cup filtered water
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Peel and shred the yucca. Sometimes yucca can be found frozen, already peeled. Also, remember that yucca is poisonous if it is not cooked all the way through. You can shred it by hand with a box grater, or in a food processor with the shredder blade.
- Mix all ingredients together well in a large bowl.
- Place mixture in a well-oiled 8 x 13 baking pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
- Once it starts getting crispy golden colored on top and edges, it is almost done. Check at one hour. All ovens cook differently, so watch for the color change to gauge done-ness.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before slicing into brownie-sized wedges.
Jamaican song to feature on “Jersey Shore”
 |
| M’ Lonie |
A song from the local ‘In The Dance’ show will be featured on MTV’s hit reality series ‘Jersey Shore.’
The song will be played in the “First Pump” episode of the show.
The song being featured is upcoming singer M’Lonie’s Watch It produced by In the Dance producer The Wizard of the Fiwi Music Label.
Dubbed a cultural phenomenon, Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore. The show is currently in its fourth season.
In The Dance is aired every Friday on a Jamaican tv station and is number one in its time slot on the station.
The show, which is currently in its second season, gives exposure to, upcoming dances and new artistes alike.
This season the show features songs from various artistes all produced by The Wizard. M’Lonie is happy that her song is being used on the MTV show.
She was quoted as saying, “I’m extremely thankful and excited for such an amazing blessing! I’m proud to have such a great team around me, Fiwi Music, The Wizard, Richard ‘Shams’ Browne and Denise Scott, my managers, who believe in me and have all worked really hard to show the world M’lonie. This is an awesome opportunity, I’m overwhelmed. In fact, Jersey Shore is one of my favourite reality series. This is truly the perfect union of dreams meet reality.”
Courtney John CEO of FiWi Music also commented in the release saying, “M’Lonie has washed a shore on Jersey Shore.”
Watch It is one of In The Dance’s more popular songs on the show with its dancers. The In The Dance brand continues to grow with the release of its music compilation coming soon on iTunes, with songs from Denyque, G-Whizz, Timberlee, Macka Diamond, Mr Lexx and more.
Gyptian taken in for questioning
 |
| Gyptian |
Gyptian and prominent Dancehall producer, Kimani “DJ Frass” Palmer have turned themselves into the Jamaican authorities; facing questioning regarding a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday September 12.
The shooting took place at the recording studio of well-renowned Dancehall producer, Steven “Supa Hype” Davis in Jamaica.
Reportedly, the shooting happened as a result of an argument between Gyptian and DJ Frass; a dispute over a track that Gyptian voiced on Frass’ Riddim.
The dispute became increasingly intense; prompting Frass to leave the studio and return moments later, accompanied by several men. Allegedly, Frass and the men proceeded to drape Gyptian and grab him by the waist and one of the men appeared to be reaching for his waist to draw a weapon. When that took place, a group of armed men then entered the recording studio; opening fire and hitting a 27 year old man multiple times.
The armed men who opened fire escaped in a white Honda motor car following the shooting. The victim, Davion “Burro” Bailey was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
DJ Frass was taken in for questioning regarding the incident on Tuesday night while Gyptian turned himself in Wednesday morning.
Frass is known for several hit Riddims including the Shadow Riddim, Israel Riddim and Hot Patty Riddim while Gyptian is recognized for several, highly acclaimed singles such as “Hold Yuh,” “Beautiful Lady,” “Serious Times,” and “Mama Don’t Cry.”
GT&T’s Jingle and Song Competition launched
Yog Mahadeo, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT& T), disclosed that the company will continue to contribute to Guyana’s development through the promotion of competitions on the basis of equality.
Mahadeo said the company will not slacken its drive to transform Guyana in the areas of sport, culture, entertainment, and telecommunications, as it has the nation’s interest at heart.
He was addressing the gathering at the launch of GT& T’s much- anticipated National Jingle and Song Competition, 2011. Mahadeo said the company’s contributions to the development of the lives of all Guyanese are invaluable, and are made on the basis of the company’s social and corporate responsibility to the market within which it has been operating the past 19 years.
“We are constantly investing millions of dollars in various competitions, events and other activities without asking for a cent in return,” Mahadeo said, as he sought to drive home his point on the company’s commitment to Guyana.
The chief executive officer noted that, since GT& T started operating in the Guyanese market, it has plugged a whopping US$ 20 million in investments back into the economy. He explained that the investment was made because the company wanted to provide the stage through which Guyanese can turn their dreams into reality.
Speaking about the investment made in staging this year’s Jingle and Song Competition, Mahadeo disclosed that more than 50 million dollars will be disbursed for the event, which will attract auditions from thousands of Guyanese.
“We have removed all barriers this year because we want all Guyanese to have the opportunity to display their talents. We realise that we are not here to limit talent, but rather cultivate talents and skills”, Mahadeo said at the launching ceremony on Thursday. This year’s competition has a new feature, a “Bollywood category”. According to Mahadeo, the event has grown and must now spread its wings to give all people, regardless of race, background or creed, the ability to demonstrate talent.
He said GT& T hopes to create two new stars in the country using music as the means of enabling Guyanese to accomplish their dreams in this respect. He insisted that the competition must seek to invoke “patriotism, nationalism, pride and overall zeal” in Guyanese. Mahadeo said specific attention should be placed on the lyrics and performance techniques of persons who are part of the competition, as opposed to just their vocal abilities.
This is the fifth staging of the competition, and already GT& T has created several stars in the music industry while affording them the opportunity to become role models and leaders in the emerging entertainment industry.
Mahadeo said the company will not slacken its drive to transform Guyana in the areas of sport, culture, entertainment, and telecommunications, as it has the nation’s interest at heart.
He was addressing the gathering at the launch of GT& T’s much- anticipated National Jingle and Song Competition, 2011. Mahadeo said the company’s contributions to the development of the lives of all Guyanese are invaluable, and are made on the basis of the company’s social and corporate responsibility to the market within which it has been operating the past 19 years.
“We are constantly investing millions of dollars in various competitions, events and other activities without asking for a cent in return,” Mahadeo said, as he sought to drive home his point on the company’s commitment to Guyana.
The chief executive officer noted that, since GT& T started operating in the Guyanese market, it has plugged a whopping US$ 20 million in investments back into the economy. He explained that the investment was made because the company wanted to provide the stage through which Guyanese can turn their dreams into reality.
Speaking about the investment made in staging this year’s Jingle and Song Competition, Mahadeo disclosed that more than 50 million dollars will be disbursed for the event, which will attract auditions from thousands of Guyanese.
“We have removed all barriers this year because we want all Guyanese to have the opportunity to display their talents. We realise that we are not here to limit talent, but rather cultivate talents and skills”, Mahadeo said at the launching ceremony on Thursday. This year’s competition has a new feature, a “Bollywood category”. According to Mahadeo, the event has grown and must now spread its wings to give all people, regardless of race, background or creed, the ability to demonstrate talent.
He said GT& T hopes to create two new stars in the country using music as the means of enabling Guyanese to accomplish their dreams in this respect. He insisted that the competition must seek to invoke “patriotism, nationalism, pride and overall zeal” in Guyanese. Mahadeo said specific attention should be placed on the lyrics and performance techniques of persons who are part of the competition, as opposed to just their vocal abilities.
This is the fifth staging of the competition, and already GT& T has created several stars in the music industry while affording them the opportunity to become role models and leaders in the emerging entertainment industry.
Neeshan “D’ Hitman” Prabhoo set to perform in Toronto
 |
| Neeshan “D’ Hitman” Prabhoo |
Since the Toronto Carnival 2011 weekend, Neeshan Prabhoo is set to make his next performance in Toronto on Saturday September 24 at the Soca Savanna in Mississauga.
“D’ Hitman” began singing film songs at around 16 years old as an hobby, until he tried his talent in chutney, producing his first and very successful hit “Don’t Hold Me Back.” This mega hit came out in 1997 which lead to the artiste touring the Caribbean and the rest of the world where chutney soca is enjoyed.
In October 2003 he did an album entitled “Another Hit by the Hitman.” On this album one can find the biggest Chutney Soca tune of 2005 Carnival, More Rum for Me (better know as Mr. Shankar). The song can also be found on a Cd entiltled Trini Bashment.
Starting as early as July since the album was released Neeshan started touring once again his first overseas trip being to Guyana. To date this song is currently being played on all the major radio stations both Indo and Afro along with the video which is has been played on Synergy TV both under the Soca listing and Chutney.
More Rum for Me has not only dominated all the house parties, clubs and shows here Trinidad but is a major hit in the entire Caribbean and the world.
Prabhoo has performed so far in the USA, Canada, Guyana, Suriname, St Lucia, Barbados and in more places.
Pass by any bar on any given day and you are bound to hear More Rum for Me being blasted.
Another achievement is the Best Soca Chutney Song of the year award at the international soca awards held on October 1 2005 at Queens Hall.
For Carnival 2006 Prabhoo has once again done it with his new very popular tune Firewater (Rum Meh brother Say).
2006 has seen the Hitman continuing his packed schedule with tours to almost every country that enjoys the chutney genre of music including Los Angeles in the USA.
in 2008, another hit song “Bring D Rum” was released and took over the airwaves.
Recenly, along with Fito Blanko, Prabhoo has experimented with a new genre called chutneyton which combines chutney music with reggaeton. Their most famous hit together has been a song called “Pretty Gyal”.
His most recent Chutney song is “Rum is not Meh Lovah.”
YOUTH CONNECTION :Signs you need to get off Twitter
 |
| Twitter bird |
That little blue bird looks so sweet and harmless, but she and her social media empire are capable of making you get into trouble!
Twitter is capable of some pretty amazing things—disseminating news stories, starting political revolutions, helping celebs connect with fans, and treating followers. But it has its drawbacks too.
1. Your inappropriate bits make an appearance in your feed. Potential employers won’t care if you meant to text the shot to your guy but accidentally uploaded it to Twitter or someone hacked your handle.
2. You’d consider live-tweeting childbirth. Singer Erykah Badu did just that, firing off things such as “I see the head, full of hair” that made us want to unfollow her stat...and send her a batch of those antibacterial phone wipes.
3. Your tweets aren’t protected and you let your followers know where you are at all times. Honey, you’re just asking for a break-in.
4. You’ve fallen victim to the tweet what-you-eat trend. In other words, you can’t sit through an entire meal (or even one course) without whipping out your phone and documenting what you’re about to chow down on.
5. You’re responsible for that trending topic #WhatMyMomLooksLikeToday.
6. You’ve gotten so good at expressing yourself in 140 characters or less that the year-end summary presentation you gave at work lasted only seven seconds.
7. You start having Twitter meltdowns
Bahamas murder count reaches triple digits .
The murder count in The Bahamas reached triple digits during the weekend of September 16-18, as five violent deaths recorded in the space of 48 hours pushed the count to a staggering 100 for the year so far.
This is the highest number of murders ever recorded in a single year since records have been kept in The Bahamas.
Four murders took place between Friday night and Saturday afternoon in separate incidents.
Another man who was shot Thursday died in hospital on Saturday night, police confirmed.
This time last year the murder count stood at 68, according to The Nassau Guardian’s records. This means that the murder count has increased by 47 percent over this time last year.
Since earlier this year, some analysts predicted that there would be more than 100 murders in 2011. And with just over three months remaining in the year, that prediction will likely be realized.
While pointing out that it is unfortunate that The Bahamas has recorded a murder count of 100, Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest said on Sunday that, were it not for certain crime-fighting initiatives the Ingraham administration put in place the situation could have been a lot worse.
During an interview, Turnquest was asked whether the government was contemplating seeking help from foreign law enforcement agencies.
“We haven’t at this stage,” he said. “We have a very well trained police force. The problem isn’t the police, in my view. We need to keep the criminals behind bars. That’s the real issue.”
He pointed to initiatives put in place by the Ingraham administration geared at speeding up the administration of justice and addressing the crime problem.
Turnquest said the electronic monitoring program had a positive impact on crime, as did the government’s decision to provide the police with additional resources, including manpower. But the opposition has accused the Ingraham administration of failing dismally on crime.
At a press conference on Thursday September 15, Progressive Liberal Party leader Perry Christie restated his position that the current administration has not done enough to address the issue of violent crime, especially murder, calling the Ingraham administration’s position on the issue “paralyzed” and “indifferent.”
“Bahamians understand that crime is a national issue, even if some of their government officials seem to be slow to understand what is happening,” Christie said.
British Airways to cut Caribbean flights in 2012
 |
| British Airways |
British Airways has announced plans to reduce flights to the Caribbean following a sharp rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD).
Blaming falling passenger numbers on the punitive tax, BA chief executive, Keith Williams, confirmed the news when delivering the keynote speech to over 200 tourism directors, ministers and practitioners in St Martin at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO)’s first ever dedicated conference to tackle the state of the travel and tourism industry.
For the summer 2012 timetable Williams explained that BA will be forced to reduce capacity to the Caribbean by approximately six percent in a bid to focus on the most profitable routes.
Attributing the reduction to lower than- planned recovery of leisure travel demand, the BA chief linked the reduced demand to the UK government’s “destructive tax juggernaut” of Air Passenger Duty.
Williams said, “We continue to protest against the rises in APD and I hope the government’s recent consultation will lead to a more equitable banding system that does not penalise the Caribbean.”
Among the reductions in capacity to the Caribbean, British Airways is expected to cancel its two weekly flights from Gatwick to Montego Bay, Jamaica, next March.
As a result, BA has decided to increase its service to Florida, a holiday destination that currently has a 20 per cent lower tax rate than the Caribbean islands.
Williams explained the tax increases the cost of a flight from London to the Caribbean for a family of four by $470. Consequently, fewer people are prepared to travel.
According to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, arrivals from the UK to the Caribbean are already declining, while those from other source markets are increasing.
In November 2010, it was estimated that the average decline in UK arrivals to the Caribbean would be in the region of 15 percent, once the full impact of the latest rise in APD has taken effect.
During the first half of 2011, the impact was even greater at 20 percent on 2008 passenger levels.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has also recently called on the British government to recalibrate the tax.
Blake outshines Bolt
 |
| Usain Bolt (left) congratulates his compatriot Yohan Blake |
Yohan Blake, who won the 100m title three weeks ago after Bolt’ s disqualification for a false start, watched his fellow Jamaican leap to the top of the year’s rankings with a time of 9.76sec in the final Samsung Diamond League meeting of the year.
Six minutes later, Blake trumped that with the second fastest 200 metres ever run, surpassing Michael Johnson’s former world record with a time of 19.26sec. Only the time of 19.19 sec that won Bolt the world title in Berlin two years ago is faster.
‘A wild time,’ Bolt called it, revealing that he had advised Blake beforehand how he should run an event in which he had not bettered 20.33sec this year. ‘He’s run some bad ones, so I told him to take it easy round the bend,’ said Bolt.
Blake, three years younger than Bolt and almost six inches shorter, followed the advice, only pulling away from American Walter Dix in the last 70m. It was a half second improvement on his previous best. Dix with a time of 19.53sec the fourth fastest man of all time.
‘Tonight I was looking for 19.50. I was expecting something fast like that but not this fast. I am like a beast,’ said Blake.
Britain’s world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene was beaten into second place by Puerto Rican Javier Culson but picked up the $40,000 prize as Diamond League champion. Phillips Idowu did likewise in the triple jump even though he finished only fifth fter pulling out after only two attempts.
FIFA summons Klass to hearing
Caribbean official Colin Klass has been summoned by FIFA to answer charges on Friday September 23, relating to $40,000 bribes allegedly offered by former presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.
However, Klass said Monday that FIFA was moving “in a hurry” and he hoped to delay the case by several days to prepare his defense.
“I need more time to get everything in perspective,” the Guyana football federation president said.
FIFA suspended Klass last month pending a full investigation by FGI Europe, an agency led by former FBI director Louis Freeh.
“We can confirm that the ethics committee will hold a meeting on Friday, September 23 to look at the case of Colin Klass, who was provisionally suspended on August 11,” the governing body of world football said Monday in a statement. Another 15 Caribbean officials under investigation after attending bin Hammam’s May 10 campaign visit to Trinidad are awaiting hearing dates at FIFA headquarters.
Klass was the only one of the 16 to be suspended pending a hearing after FIFA cited “consideration of the specific information received on this matter.”
Klass, a member of FIFA’s futsal and beach soccer committee, is a longtime ally of former FIFA vice president Jack Warner, who ran Caribbean football for three decades until resigning in June.
Klass attended the Caribbean Football Union meeting in Trinidad where bin Hammam allegedly offered voters $40,000 payments to back his later abandoned election challenge to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
FIFA’s appeals panel upheld bin Hammam’s life ban last week, and the Qatari official has pledged to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. After bin Hammam was expelled by the ethics panel on July 23, FIFA gave CFU members a further 48 hours to provide explanations and confessions or “be subject to the full range of sanctions.”
Klass is the most senior official of the 16 charged, with FIFA warning that further cases could be opened. The accused include former international referee Mark Bob Forde of Barbados, Haiti federation president Yves Jean-Bart and Guyana federation official Noel Adonis.
One of world football’s few senior women officials, Franka Pickering of the British Virgin Islands, is among several federation presidents under investigation. Osiris Guzman of the Dominican Republic and Anthony Johnson of St. Kitts and Nevis also face FIFA charges.
However, Klass said Monday that FIFA was moving “in a hurry” and he hoped to delay the case by several days to prepare his defense.
“I need more time to get everything in perspective,” the Guyana football federation president said.
FIFA suspended Klass last month pending a full investigation by FGI Europe, an agency led by former FBI director Louis Freeh.
“We can confirm that the ethics committee will hold a meeting on Friday, September 23 to look at the case of Colin Klass, who was provisionally suspended on August 11,” the governing body of world football said Monday in a statement. Another 15 Caribbean officials under investigation after attending bin Hammam’s May 10 campaign visit to Trinidad are awaiting hearing dates at FIFA headquarters.
Klass was the only one of the 16 to be suspended pending a hearing after FIFA cited “consideration of the specific information received on this matter.”
Klass, a member of FIFA’s futsal and beach soccer committee, is a longtime ally of former FIFA vice president Jack Warner, who ran Caribbean football for three decades until resigning in June.
Klass attended the Caribbean Football Union meeting in Trinidad where bin Hammam allegedly offered voters $40,000 payments to back his later abandoned election challenge to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
FIFA’s appeals panel upheld bin Hammam’s life ban last week, and the Qatari official has pledged to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. After bin Hammam was expelled by the ethics panel on July 23, FIFA gave CFU members a further 48 hours to provide explanations and confessions or “be subject to the full range of sanctions.”
Klass is the most senior official of the 16 charged, with FIFA warning that further cases could be opened. The accused include former international referee Mark Bob Forde of Barbados, Haiti federation president Yves Jean-Bart and Guyana federation official Noel Adonis.
One of world football’s few senior women officials, Franka Pickering of the British Virgin Islands, is among several federation presidents under investigation. Osiris Guzman of the Dominican Republic and Anthony Johnson of St. Kitts and Nevis also face FIFA charges.
Trinidad & Tobago roar into Champions League main draw
Winning the Caribbean T20 wasn’t enough this time, but former finalists Trinidad & Tobago roared back into the Champions League main draw with a walloping of the England champions Leicestershire on Tuesday September 20.
Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath put together T&T’s highest partnership in Twenty20 cricket, and the bowlers strangulated the Leicestershire batsmen into throwing their wickets away on a slow track.
T&T came across as the more aware side: while T&T batsmen exploited slow legs in the field (Leicestershire’s average age is 30.4), the Leicestershire top order didn’t appreciate the fact that Samuel Bardee doesn’t turn the ball. Badree cleaned the stumps up twice while bowling the most economical four-over spell in Champions League history, 4-1-7-2. The Leicestershire attack offered lengths batsmen could get under and the pace to use, whereas the T&T opened the bowling with spin, and apart from Ravi Rampaul there was no pace on offer.
Leicestershire would have known pace was not going to work from the way their captain Matthew Hoggard sent the first ball of the day through to Paul Nixon on the second bounce. Simmons went too hard at the start, survived the odd miss-hit, but stayed long enough to hurt Leicestershire.
The key feature of his innings was the way he put behind him the misshits and plays and misses. In the first four overs he survived a bottom edge and a top edge, but he also kept hitting fours to reach 25 off 20.
Barath was more orthodox and correct in his effort, opening up only in the ninth over when he lofted Claude Henderson’s left-arm spin for six over long-off. That took him to 27 off 22; Simmons had reached 40 already.
The next eight overs featured more hard running, the odd boundary, fifties for both, and at 139 after 17 overs T&T were set to tee off. Both fell to top edges off successive deliveries, but Darren Bravo averted the hat-trick and lofted two exquisite sixes in the last over. Despite those two wickets, T&T managed 29 in the last three.
Joshua Cobb began the chase with a four first ball, but Andrew McDonald summed up the effort. Twice he was cramped up by Badree’s sliders before he went back to cut, and was bowled. Rampaul continued his good form, taking two in his two overs: one a hole-out to deep cover, and the other a wild swing from Wayne White, leaving the stumps exposed. Will Jefferson too played Badree for the turn and lost his leg stump.
Sunil Narine, on the surface an innocuous little off-spinner, bowls a smart leg-cutter, flicked almost like the now-famous carrom ball. The leg-cutter got rid of Paul Nixon, and 20 for 5 in the sixth over left too much of a task even for the quintessential Twenty20 player, Abdul Razzaq.The talented James Taylor fought for 56 off 47, but there wasn’t much he could have done to reverse the result.
Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath put together T&T’s highest partnership in Twenty20 cricket, and the bowlers strangulated the Leicestershire batsmen into throwing their wickets away on a slow track.
T&T came across as the more aware side: while T&T batsmen exploited slow legs in the field (Leicestershire’s average age is 30.4), the Leicestershire top order didn’t appreciate the fact that Samuel Bardee doesn’t turn the ball. Badree cleaned the stumps up twice while bowling the most economical four-over spell in Champions League history, 4-1-7-2. The Leicestershire attack offered lengths batsmen could get under and the pace to use, whereas the T&T opened the bowling with spin, and apart from Ravi Rampaul there was no pace on offer.
Leicestershire would have known pace was not going to work from the way their captain Matthew Hoggard sent the first ball of the day through to Paul Nixon on the second bounce. Simmons went too hard at the start, survived the odd miss-hit, but stayed long enough to hurt Leicestershire.
The key feature of his innings was the way he put behind him the misshits and plays and misses. In the first four overs he survived a bottom edge and a top edge, but he also kept hitting fours to reach 25 off 20.
Barath was more orthodox and correct in his effort, opening up only in the ninth over when he lofted Claude Henderson’s left-arm spin for six over long-off. That took him to 27 off 22; Simmons had reached 40 already.
The next eight overs featured more hard running, the odd boundary, fifties for both, and at 139 after 17 overs T&T were set to tee off. Both fell to top edges off successive deliveries, but Darren Bravo averted the hat-trick and lofted two exquisite sixes in the last over. Despite those two wickets, T&T managed 29 in the last three.
Joshua Cobb began the chase with a four first ball, but Andrew McDonald summed up the effort. Twice he was cramped up by Badree’s sliders before he went back to cut, and was bowled. Rampaul continued his good form, taking two in his two overs: one a hole-out to deep cover, and the other a wild swing from Wayne White, leaving the stumps exposed. Will Jefferson too played Badree for the turn and lost his leg stump.
Sunil Narine, on the surface an innocuous little off-spinner, bowls a smart leg-cutter, flicked almost like the now-famous carrom ball. The leg-cutter got rid of Paul Nixon, and 20 for 5 in the sixth over left too much of a task even for the quintessential Twenty20 player, Abdul Razzaq.The talented James Taylor fought for 56 off 47, but there wasn’t much he could have done to reverse the result.
“His advocacy was service beyond Guyana”
Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal, has lauded President Bharrat Jagdeo’s tenureship, as he paid tribute to His Excellency, during the President’s Appreciation celebration day, on Friday September 16, at the National Stadium, Providence.
Sir Shridath joined many who took the opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude for President Jagdeo’s astute leadership over the past 12 years, noting the tremendous development the country has witnessed during this period.
The Guyana-born Sir Shridath especially paid tribute to the president’s respect for the constitutional norms in relinquishing office as the Constitution of the republic required.
“To respect the Constitution is of course the norm; to do so with dignity and without hesitancy is deserving of tribute, and I pay that tribute with great admiration,” he said.
He noted too that President Jagdeo has demonstrated both the understanding and the aptitude, at many levels, of global encounters, such as international summits and meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government.
This ability, he noted, is important in these days of globalization, where national and international matters are closely intertwined and all aspects of the president’s international work have had national implications, with much of it being driven in pursuit of the interests of Guyana and its people.
According to Sir Shridath, President Jagdeo has shown those qualities too in more specialised forums, like meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (where he was once Chairman of the Board of Governors) and high level environmental, climate change and forestry bodies.
He said, “Not surprisingly, his attendance was marked out and specifically sought. A voice from the developing world, from a small country, an authentic voice speaking with intelligence of the issues and with passion on them. The international community acknowledged President Jagdeo’s special qualities, and singled out his contributions.”
Sir Shridath explained that the linkage between local and global policies has not been better exemplified than in President Jadgeo’s “enlightened” Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Guyana - Norway Partnership Agreement, which is recognized as the world’s second largest forest service climate.
“This agreement melds the vision and integrity of Guyana’s LCDS and Norway’s enlightened environmental policies,” he acknowledged.
As to the importance of the Head of State’s drive to promote the LCDS, Ramphal said, “Many years ago, I was a member of the International Commission on Environment and Development chaired by a former prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Bruntdland. The report we produced, ‘Our Common Future’, first developed the concept of sustainable development. Therefore, it is special to me that over two decades later, President Jagdeo should be so splendidly fulfilling for Guyana the promise of sustainable development – and with Norway’s help.”
In recent years President Jagdeo has spoken out internationally of the need for solutions to avert the worst extremes of climate change globally, and with special emphasis on its catastrophic consequences for developing countries.
In 2009, he did so with notable effect at the prestigious World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.
“His advocacy was service beyond Guyana: it was service to a much wider world,” the former Commonwealth Secretary General explained.
And all that is besides his acknowledged regional leadership - leadership in CARICOM - nowhere better exemplified than in his opposition to the Economic partnership Agreement ( EPA ) with the European Union.
President Jagdeo was convinced that what was being concluded was bad for the region: a conviction in which he was to be proven right even before the ink of signature was dry. He gave leadership too in the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) of which he was an early chairman – constituting Guyana as a bridge between the Caribbean and South America, and thereby enhancing our country’s importance to both.
The president’s internationalism has earned more than acknowledgement of the contributions he can make at the global level; it has won him honour for his special capacities, competencies and achievements.
In 2008, both Time magazine and CNN named Bharrat Jagdeo as one of their ‘Heroes of the Environment’.
In 2010, at the level of the United Nations, he was named a Champion of the Earth, an award which, in the words of the United Nations Envivonment Programme, “recognises individuals who embody commitment and vision towards environmental leadership through their action and their influence”. This award spoke eloquently to the president’s internationalism, and brought glory to him and to all Guyana.
Within recent months he has been invited to serve on the Board of the internationally respected Global Green Growth Institute.
In closing, Sir Ramphal stated, “As he leaves the presidency of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo can be proud that he has made a difference to the standing of developing countries in the global community, and the quality of his advocacy has redounded to the credit of our country and our people. May he long continue to contribute to the welfare of his fellow citizens of the Earth,” Sir Shridat concluded.
Sir Shridath joined many who took the opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude for President Jagdeo’s astute leadership over the past 12 years, noting the tremendous development the country has witnessed during this period.
The Guyana-born Sir Shridath especially paid tribute to the president’s respect for the constitutional norms in relinquishing office as the Constitution of the republic required.
“To respect the Constitution is of course the norm; to do so with dignity and without hesitancy is deserving of tribute, and I pay that tribute with great admiration,” he said.
He noted too that President Jagdeo has demonstrated both the understanding and the aptitude, at many levels, of global encounters, such as international summits and meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government.
This ability, he noted, is important in these days of globalization, where national and international matters are closely intertwined and all aspects of the president’s international work have had national implications, with much of it being driven in pursuit of the interests of Guyana and its people.
According to Sir Shridath, President Jagdeo has shown those qualities too in more specialised forums, like meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (where he was once Chairman of the Board of Governors) and high level environmental, climate change and forestry bodies.
He said, “Not surprisingly, his attendance was marked out and specifically sought. A voice from the developing world, from a small country, an authentic voice speaking with intelligence of the issues and with passion on them. The international community acknowledged President Jagdeo’s special qualities, and singled out his contributions.”
Sir Shridath explained that the linkage between local and global policies has not been better exemplified than in President Jadgeo’s “enlightened” Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Guyana - Norway Partnership Agreement, which is recognized as the world’s second largest forest service climate.
“This agreement melds the vision and integrity of Guyana’s LCDS and Norway’s enlightened environmental policies,” he acknowledged.
As to the importance of the Head of State’s drive to promote the LCDS, Ramphal said, “Many years ago, I was a member of the International Commission on Environment and Development chaired by a former prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Bruntdland. The report we produced, ‘Our Common Future’, first developed the concept of sustainable development. Therefore, it is special to me that over two decades later, President Jagdeo should be so splendidly fulfilling for Guyana the promise of sustainable development – and with Norway’s help.”
In recent years President Jagdeo has spoken out internationally of the need for solutions to avert the worst extremes of climate change globally, and with special emphasis on its catastrophic consequences for developing countries.
In 2009, he did so with notable effect at the prestigious World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.
“His advocacy was service beyond Guyana: it was service to a much wider world,” the former Commonwealth Secretary General explained.
And all that is besides his acknowledged regional leadership - leadership in CARICOM - nowhere better exemplified than in his opposition to the Economic partnership Agreement ( EPA ) with the European Union.
President Jagdeo was convinced that what was being concluded was bad for the region: a conviction in which he was to be proven right even before the ink of signature was dry. He gave leadership too in the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) of which he was an early chairman – constituting Guyana as a bridge between the Caribbean and South America, and thereby enhancing our country’s importance to both.
The president’s internationalism has earned more than acknowledgement of the contributions he can make at the global level; it has won him honour for his special capacities, competencies and achievements.
In 2008, both Time magazine and CNN named Bharrat Jagdeo as one of their ‘Heroes of the Environment’.
In 2010, at the level of the United Nations, he was named a Champion of the Earth, an award which, in the words of the United Nations Envivonment Programme, “recognises individuals who embody commitment and vision towards environmental leadership through their action and their influence”. This award spoke eloquently to the president’s internationalism, and brought glory to him and to all Guyana.
Within recent months he has been invited to serve on the Board of the internationally respected Global Green Growth Institute.
In closing, Sir Ramphal stated, “As he leaves the presidency of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo can be proud that he has made a difference to the standing of developing countries in the global community, and the quality of his advocacy has redounded to the credit of our country and our people. May he long continue to contribute to the welfare of his fellow citizens of the Earth,” Sir Shridat concluded.
Relatives of injured Amerindian claim policeman was insulting
Forty-eight year-old Trevor Melville, of Port Kaituma, North West Region, who was hit by a truck on Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday September 18, remained in a critical condition.
He is a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and on life support. Melville suffered head injuries and a crushed left leg.
The accident happened around 10:30 hrs and he was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to Diamond Diagnostic Centre, also on East Bank Demerara, before being transferred to the GPH.
The father of four, between the ages of 6 and 12 years, had been in Georgetown to visit his sisters, Doreen James and Thelma Melville. Melville had just left the home of the latter at Friendship and was crossing the road, in an effort to get transportation to visit Thelma who lives at Land of Canaan, on East Bank Demerara, too, when he was injured.
One of his daughters, Jessica, who witnessed the mishap, related that the attitude of the driver of the vehicle, GMM 100, was most insensitive. She said he and a woman, who was sitting in the cab next to him, became very abrasive and hurled insults at the hurt man.
Melville’s elder sister, Doreen, said it was unbelievable that the driver did not even attempt to render any assistance in getting her brother to the hospital. It was his sisters and other relatives who had to pick him up and hire a vehicle to take him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
Ranks from Grove Police Station arrived on the scene and carried out investigations but, later in the evening, when relatives visited the station to be updated, they came in for another shock, they claimed.
They said the police rank from whom they sought to get information was loud and blatantly insulting. “In fact he stopped just short of telling us that we were Amerindians, insignificant and had no right to ask any questions about the driver,” one of the victim’s sisters lamented.
Melville’s family recalled that, about five years ago, he had a horrific accident in the same neighbourhood and it was a miracle that he survived. On that occasion he remained unconscious and on life support in the ICU for several days, having suffered severe head injuries.
To this day, he still has a disfigured face and, another sister Elaine, was also struck by a vehicle near that same spot and remains paralysed on one side.
“We expected the police to do their job and conduct proper investigations and take the matter to court. However, it seems that both cases were thrown out of the window. Our sister is paralysed. Our brother is on life support for the second time and all the drivers are walking free. Where is the justice?” where
He is a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and on life support. Melville suffered head injuries and a crushed left leg.
The accident happened around 10:30 hrs and he was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to Diamond Diagnostic Centre, also on East Bank Demerara, before being transferred to the GPH.
The father of four, between the ages of 6 and 12 years, had been in Georgetown to visit his sisters, Doreen James and Thelma Melville. Melville had just left the home of the latter at Friendship and was crossing the road, in an effort to get transportation to visit Thelma who lives at Land of Canaan, on East Bank Demerara, too, when he was injured.
One of his daughters, Jessica, who witnessed the mishap, related that the attitude of the driver of the vehicle, GMM 100, was most insensitive. She said he and a woman, who was sitting in the cab next to him, became very abrasive and hurled insults at the hurt man.
Melville’s elder sister, Doreen, said it was unbelievable that the driver did not even attempt to render any assistance in getting her brother to the hospital. It was his sisters and other relatives who had to pick him up and hire a vehicle to take him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
Ranks from Grove Police Station arrived on the scene and carried out investigations but, later in the evening, when relatives visited the station to be updated, they came in for another shock, they claimed.
They said the police rank from whom they sought to get information was loud and blatantly insulting. “In fact he stopped just short of telling us that we were Amerindians, insignificant and had no right to ask any questions about the driver,” one of the victim’s sisters lamented.
Melville’s family recalled that, about five years ago, he had a horrific accident in the same neighbourhood and it was a miracle that he survived. On that occasion he remained unconscious and on life support in the ICU for several days, having suffered severe head injuries.
To this day, he still has a disfigured face and, another sister Elaine, was also struck by a vehicle near that same spot and remains paralysed on one side.
“We expected the police to do their job and conduct proper investigations and take the matter to court. However, it seems that both cases were thrown out of the window. Our sister is paralysed. Our brother is on life support for the second time and all the drivers are walking free. Where is the justice?” where
Africanised bees kill Eccles man
Pandemonium hit the village of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in the afternoon on Monday September 19 after a swarm of Africanised (killer) Bees launched an attack on residents in the area, resulting in the death of one.
Sheikh Imran Hassan, 48, succumbed at the Balwant Singh Hospital, East Street, Georgetown, late afternoon. He had been stung numerous times about his body while at his residence.
At the hospital, the Hassan family was still trying to come to grips with what transpired, while other residents who were stung needed medical attention.
Arshaad Hassan, the man’s eldest son, said that he has been living at Lot 238 Anaida Avenue, Eccles, for his entire life and never saw any of the Africanised Bees around his home prior to this incident.
He explained that his father, a mechanic by occupation, and other family members were attacked by the bees around 13:30 hrs while he was at work.
Six other residents were stung moments after the bees began to attack and they received assistance and treatment from other persons in the neighbourhood.
One of Hassan’s relative stated that the hive of bees was situated in their neighbour’s house.
“The nest is in our neighbour ceiling; Tony Amres house, the GEB security people. The house lock up and they gone. We sought assistance when this thing was happening from; we sought the NDC, police station, agriculture, fire station, all over and no one helped”, said the relative.
Fizal Shawl, the victim’s brother-inlaw, who was at the scene at the time of the incident stated that Hassan and another brother were repairing a car on his (Shawl’s) bridge when a swarm of bees attacked the two.
The victim’s brother managed to jump in a drum of water while the deceased put a bucket on his head but since the bees were too numerous he fell and was covered in black (bees). The victim’s sons, his brother and other close relatives made numerous efforts to save his life but all were futile.
According to his brother, from the time the bees attacked Hassan, contacts were made to many government places for help to eradicate the bees but to no avail.
Calls were also made to West Ruimveldt Fire Station but the response was “We gotta get permission”.
The NDC responded to the calls with “How much you’ll pay?”
While the deceased was being attacked, frustrated relatives also made contact with the Ministry of Agriculture but that department was only able to give the family different phone numbers to contact the eradicator.
At the home of Hassan at 17:00hrs, there was chaos because the bees were still living in the ceiling of a house next door, at 239 Anaida Avenue.
At the time of the incident a woman was said to be living in the house but immediately fled after she realized that the bees were inside the house.
According to Joan Hassan, the victim’s sister-in-law, she was stung in the head while trying to assist, while other neighbours locked their doors and were peeping through their windows to see the outcome since there wasn’t much anyone could do.
The victim’s sister-in-law explained that after her brother-in-law passed away, a bee catcher came to the scene.
“When he came and was directed to the house the bee catcher said there isn’t anything he can do now and demanded taxi fare from our family.” Hassan leaves to mourn his three sons and wife, Sabetri.
According to a report the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) received a report from a resident of Lot 199 Anira Avenue, Eccles, at approximately 14:00 hrs. That report stated that a resident of Eccles was being attacked by a swarm of bees.
The GLDA states that it immediately contacted Mr. Carl Persaud, a private bee keeper/exterminator who responded to the scene at 14:30 hrs to investigate the report and take necessary action.
Singh arrived on the scene and found that the bees were in an occupied building. He then exterminated the bee colony and rescued two dogs.
“It is also believed that there are other colonies of bees within the area based upon the number of bees that were exterminated. The GLDA is advising that the bees are hostile and should be reported immediately to GLDA at 220-6557”, the release went on to say.
Meanwhile, the GLDA said that it regretted the loss of life and sympathised with the other persons who were stung in the process.
Sheikh Imran Hassan, 48, succumbed at the Balwant Singh Hospital, East Street, Georgetown, late afternoon. He had been stung numerous times about his body while at his residence.
At the hospital, the Hassan family was still trying to come to grips with what transpired, while other residents who were stung needed medical attention.
Arshaad Hassan, the man’s eldest son, said that he has been living at Lot 238 Anaida Avenue, Eccles, for his entire life and never saw any of the Africanised Bees around his home prior to this incident.
He explained that his father, a mechanic by occupation, and other family members were attacked by the bees around 13:30 hrs while he was at work.
Six other residents were stung moments after the bees began to attack and they received assistance and treatment from other persons in the neighbourhood.
One of Hassan’s relative stated that the hive of bees was situated in their neighbour’s house.
“The nest is in our neighbour ceiling; Tony Amres house, the GEB security people. The house lock up and they gone. We sought assistance when this thing was happening from; we sought the NDC, police station, agriculture, fire station, all over and no one helped”, said the relative.
Fizal Shawl, the victim’s brother-inlaw, who was at the scene at the time of the incident stated that Hassan and another brother were repairing a car on his (Shawl’s) bridge when a swarm of bees attacked the two.
The victim’s brother managed to jump in a drum of water while the deceased put a bucket on his head but since the bees were too numerous he fell and was covered in black (bees). The victim’s sons, his brother and other close relatives made numerous efforts to save his life but all were futile.
According to his brother, from the time the bees attacked Hassan, contacts were made to many government places for help to eradicate the bees but to no avail.
Calls were also made to West Ruimveldt Fire Station but the response was “We gotta get permission”.
The NDC responded to the calls with “How much you’ll pay?”
While the deceased was being attacked, frustrated relatives also made contact with the Ministry of Agriculture but that department was only able to give the family different phone numbers to contact the eradicator.
At the home of Hassan at 17:00hrs, there was chaos because the bees were still living in the ceiling of a house next door, at 239 Anaida Avenue.
At the time of the incident a woman was said to be living in the house but immediately fled after she realized that the bees were inside the house.
According to Joan Hassan, the victim’s sister-in-law, she was stung in the head while trying to assist, while other neighbours locked their doors and were peeping through their windows to see the outcome since there wasn’t much anyone could do.
The victim’s sister-in-law explained that after her brother-in-law passed away, a bee catcher came to the scene.
“When he came and was directed to the house the bee catcher said there isn’t anything he can do now and demanded taxi fare from our family.” Hassan leaves to mourn his three sons and wife, Sabetri.
According to a report the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) received a report from a resident of Lot 199 Anira Avenue, Eccles, at approximately 14:00 hrs. That report stated that a resident of Eccles was being attacked by a swarm of bees.
The GLDA states that it immediately contacted Mr. Carl Persaud, a private bee keeper/exterminator who responded to the scene at 14:30 hrs to investigate the report and take necessary action.
Singh arrived on the scene and found that the bees were in an occupied building. He then exterminated the bee colony and rescued two dogs.
“It is also believed that there are other colonies of bees within the area based upon the number of bees that were exterminated. The GLDA is advising that the bees are hostile and should be reported immediately to GLDA at 220-6557”, the release went on to say.
Meanwhile, the GLDA said that it regretted the loss of life and sympathised with the other persons who were stung in the process.
“Most wanted” Guyanese to be deported
 |
| Shameer Ally Allie |
Shameer Ally Allie, 36, of Guyana, was picked up Thursday September 15 by the RCMP. He had been on the run since January to avoid deportation stemming from a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for assault causing bodily harm, threatening death, assault with a weapon and twice failing to report to authorities.
He is slated to be deported on Wednesday by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, Allie wore leg and stomach restraints at an Immigration and Refugee Board hearing on Monday September 19.
The father of two was convicted in 2003 for attacking a common-law wife with a baseball bat, the hearing was told. He received a suspended sentence and was placed on probation for two years.
Allie also attacked another woman, whom he was seeing, with a “large kitchen knife” after he accused her of dressing provocatively, Stephanie Echlin, a counsel for the immigration department said.
The woman was threatened with death several times and escaped after the building’s landlord heard a struggle and ran to her aid.
“Both of those assaulted were women with whom he had a close relationship with,” Echlin said. “He (Allie) is a violent offender who has shown no sign of remorse or rehabilitation.”
The board was told Allie was released from custody by an immigration official last year “after he requested to spend the Christmas holidays with his family.” He promptly went underground and was arrested last week while walking to an illegal job. He does not have a permit to work here.
Immigration board member Marilou Funston said Allie may not return if released from custody because he twice failed to comply with court orders.
Allie told the board his life would be in danger if he returned to Guyana. He is the sixth person arrested from a list of 32 of Canada’s “Most Wanted” criminals who were identified by the CBSA.
The fugitives are among a group of 1,400 dangerous criminals without immigration status who are believed to be hiding in Canada.
The lineup of foreign criminals was released following the success of a first list of 30 suspected war criminals who were identified by the CBSA. So far, 11 suspects have been arrested and one has left country. Five have been deported.
DPP made right move
 |
| Dwayne Gibbs |
“The DPP has to do what’s right, and he’s done that,” was Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs’s comment in response to the Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision to drop the charges against 21 men from Nelson Street.
In a rare move on Monday September 12, DPP Roger Gaspard went to court himself and dropped the cases, saying there was not enough evidence to prosecute the men.
In an exclusive interview on Saturday September 17, Commissioner Gibbs agreed with Gaspard’s move.
“It’s up to us to provide enough evidence to take the case through the court, and we haven’t gathered enough evidence to meet that threshold,” he said, noting, “The new legislation came in a week before.”
Gibbs was referring to the Anti-Gang Act, which was proclaimed on August 15. “We’re trying to feel our way through the legislation,” he said.
“A lot of people were picked up on intelligence we had with regard to their being in gangs. But the intelligence we had before August 15 couldn’t be used for those charges,” he explained. “It could be used to pick them up, but not to charge them. Now we’ve got them in custody, we can put the evidence together.”
Asked about claims that the police had been told to round people up first and find evidence afterwards, Gibbs said, “I’ve heard that too.”
He added that police officers knew what was right and had no obligation to obey if they were given illegal orders.
Unlike the DPP, Gibbs welcomed the announcement that the Attorney General is to supply teams of lawyers to work with the police to prosecute those held during the State of Emergency.
“They’re consultants,” he said. “They’re here to help us with their legal expertise, and we’re learning so that we can present better evidence.” Gibbs said the police were in consultation with the DPP “almost on a daily basis.”
He said the police were unable to use the videotapes of Nelson Street residents apparently carrying out robberies, because there were no complainants. “It’s not that we did nothing,” he said. “We talked to the victims and they didn’t want to give evidence.” He admitted that it was frustrating when witnesses were too frightened to give evidence.
Gibbs was in favour of the State of Emergency, saying, “Good things may come out of it. It gives the country an opportunity to settle down, a respite. It lets the police regroup as an organisation, build relationships with the communities, get social development going. We can gather more intelligence and more understanding of the criminal world.”
Asked why a State of Emergency had been necessary in order for the police to make some of the arrests, he said: “We can do searches and seizures without warrants, it gives police powers to the Defence Force that weren’t there before, so there’s an increased number of people doing policing work.”
However, numbers alone were not enough, he said.
He cautioned that the State of Emergency would “not give the public the immediate end to crime that they expect. Crime will continue. But we intend to bring the levels down. We have a remit to ensure they stay down and decrease further.”
Looking back at his first year in office, Gibbs said there had been achievements.
“There has been substantial change. There’s been a 20 per cent drop in serious crime and a 20 per cent drop in homicides, up to the (start of the) State of Emergency.”
Cops, bandits in highway shootout
Motorists proceeding along the east and west-bound lanes of the Beetham Highway were forced to stop their vehicles and pull aside to safety as Cpl Thompson and PC Gomez of the Besson Street CID traded bullets with two bandits on the highway.
Police, on Monday September 19, launched a manhunt for the two bandits.
The incident, police said, caused a massive traffic pile-up as scores of police vehicles later raced into the area in search of the two armed bandits who managed to escape in the mangrove.
Around 11 a.m., police said, Richard Thomas and Elijah Daly, two employees of a solid waste company, were at the Beetham landfill when they were approached by two armed men who robbed them of cash and jewelry totalling $6,620.
The men made their way to the Besson Street CID where a report was made to detectives and then later accompanied Cpl Thompson and PC Gomez to the scene.
They immediately pointed out the two suspects who were in the vicinity of Hell Yard.
Police said they called on the suspects to surrender but the men ran across the highway and began shooting at the officers who had decided to pursue them on foot.
Officers reported they were forced to stop at the centre of the highway and engage the suspects in a shootout.
Police radioed for backup and a contingent of officers led by Insp Sahadeo Singh quickly arrived at the scene and went in search of the suspects but they could not be found. Police said one of the suspects is known to them and that an arrest was imminent.
Some comments on this incident made by citizens were:
“These criminals have no kind of respect for authority and also no regard for human life firing shots while innocent drivers passing by. The TTPS has really stepped to the plate after the SoE was declared by the PM and their efforts are duly noted by members of the public.”
“TTPS response time to crime sincethe SoE has been really amazing. The SoE should have been declared a long time ago. Just to note if those road saying they were good boys." guys were shot by police some people would have been blocking the
Police, on Monday September 19, launched a manhunt for the two bandits.
The incident, police said, caused a massive traffic pile-up as scores of police vehicles later raced into the area in search of the two armed bandits who managed to escape in the mangrove.
Around 11 a.m., police said, Richard Thomas and Elijah Daly, two employees of a solid waste company, were at the Beetham landfill when they were approached by two armed men who robbed them of cash and jewelry totalling $6,620.
The men made their way to the Besson Street CID where a report was made to detectives and then later accompanied Cpl Thompson and PC Gomez to the scene.
They immediately pointed out the two suspects who were in the vicinity of Hell Yard.
Police said they called on the suspects to surrender but the men ran across the highway and began shooting at the officers who had decided to pursue them on foot.
Officers reported they were forced to stop at the centre of the highway and engage the suspects in a shootout.
Police radioed for backup and a contingent of officers led by Insp Sahadeo Singh quickly arrived at the scene and went in search of the suspects but they could not be found. Police said one of the suspects is known to them and that an arrest was imminent.
Some comments on this incident made by citizens were:
“These criminals have no kind of respect for authority and also no regard for human life firing shots while innocent drivers passing by. The TTPS has really stepped to the plate after the SoE was declared by the PM and their efforts are duly noted by members of the public.”
“TTPS response time to crime sincethe SoE has been really amazing. The SoE should have been declared a long time ago. Just to note if those road saying they were good boys." guys were shot by police some people would have been blocking the
Brazil president accepts invitation to visit T&T
Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has accepted an invitation to visit Trinidad and Tobago.
Rousseff is the first woman to be elected president of Brazil.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Rousseff as well as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a number of women global leaders all participated in a side meeting at the United Nation’s 66th General Assembly—” Women’s Political Participation: Making Gender Equality in Politics a Reality” on Monday September 19.
Following this meeting Persad-Bissessar held a press conference where she expressed thanks to all persons who played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the meeting and also disclosed Rousseff’s acceptance of the invitation to visit this country.
She noted Brazil’s advancement in its energy sector and Trinidad and Tobago’s own 100 years of experience in the field.
“Most of our traditional trading partners are in the North, it is very vital for us to cultivate South relationships,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She noted that she had visited Brazil earlier this year to discuss a partnership with Trinidad and Tobago in the energy sector.
“When I was there I spoke to Petrobras... I had talks about an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) in the energy sector that had been there for many many years but had never been implemented and we agreed that we will review that MOU, given what is happening in Brazil now, with the energy sector and our expertise in the energy sector in Trinidad and Tobago. We will review that MOU and make changes such that there may be and move towards implementation,” she said.
Rousseff is the first woman to be elected president of Brazil.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Rousseff as well as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a number of women global leaders all participated in a side meeting at the United Nation’s 66th General Assembly—” Women’s Political Participation: Making Gender Equality in Politics a Reality” on Monday September 19.
Following this meeting Persad-Bissessar held a press conference where she expressed thanks to all persons who played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the meeting and also disclosed Rousseff’s acceptance of the invitation to visit this country.
She noted Brazil’s advancement in its energy sector and Trinidad and Tobago’s own 100 years of experience in the field.
“Most of our traditional trading partners are in the North, it is very vital for us to cultivate South relationships,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She noted that she had visited Brazil earlier this year to discuss a partnership with Trinidad and Tobago in the energy sector.
“When I was there I spoke to Petrobras... I had talks about an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) in the energy sector that had been there for many many years but had never been implemented and we agreed that we will review that MOU, given what is happening in Brazil now, with the energy sector and our expertise in the energy sector in Trinidad and Tobago. We will review that MOU and make changes such that there may be and move towards implementation,” she said.
Kamla in New York for UN meeting
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar left Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday September 17 for New York where she delivered an address at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sunday.
Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner acted as Prime Minister in her absence until her return on Monday.
The high-level meeting addressed the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases worldwide, with a particular focus on developmental and other challenges and social and economic impacts, particularly for developing countries.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, adviser on public engagements, Lisa Ghany, said Persad-Bissessar also participated in the interactive panel discussion on the achievements and challenges in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
The panel discussion was hosted by Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in collaboration with PAHO/WHO.
Ghany said Trinidad and Tobago was instrumental in placing non-communicable diseases on the agenda of the General Assembly and ensuring that it continued to receive the attention of the global community.
“These diseases account for about 60 per cent of all deaths worldwide,” Ghany said.
“Approximately 80 per cent of these occur in low and middle income developing countries and these deaths globally are expected to increase by 17 per cent over the next ten years. Her participation places our country in a pivotal position to influence global and hemispheric debates on this subject.”
Ghany said Persad-Bissessar’s attendance at these events enhances Trinidad and Tobago’s reputation as a country committed to reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among its population.
She said the issue was raised by Persad-Bissessar in her maiden address at last year’s General Assembly and is in keeping with the efforts of Trinidad and Tobago to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
“Discussions will centre on ways of dealing with the treatment of, for example, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic resspiratory diseases and diabetes."
Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner acted as Prime Minister in her absence until her return on Monday.
The high-level meeting addressed the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases worldwide, with a particular focus on developmental and other challenges and social and economic impacts, particularly for developing countries.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, adviser on public engagements, Lisa Ghany, said Persad-Bissessar also participated in the interactive panel discussion on the achievements and challenges in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
The panel discussion was hosted by Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in collaboration with PAHO/WHO.
Ghany said Trinidad and Tobago was instrumental in placing non-communicable diseases on the agenda of the General Assembly and ensuring that it continued to receive the attention of the global community.
“These diseases account for about 60 per cent of all deaths worldwide,” Ghany said.
“Approximately 80 per cent of these occur in low and middle income developing countries and these deaths globally are expected to increase by 17 per cent over the next ten years. Her participation places our country in a pivotal position to influence global and hemispheric debates on this subject.”
Ghany said Persad-Bissessar’s attendance at these events enhances Trinidad and Tobago’s reputation as a country committed to reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among its population.
She said the issue was raised by Persad-Bissessar in her maiden address at last year’s General Assembly and is in keeping with the efforts of Trinidad and Tobago to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
“Discussions will centre on ways of dealing with the treatment of, for example, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic resspiratory diseases and diabetes."
7 year old Sarah’s last dance
 |
| Sarah Ohid |
Little Sarah Ohid seemed energetic and exuberant as she sang her favourite song and danced at her home last week, while already afflicted with the dengue virus that would kill her days later.
Mourners at her funeral service yesterday at the family home at Crissy Street, Block Five, Palmiste, San Fernando, were shown a 30-second video of the girl, captured by relative Mark Ohid.
Those 30 seconds were the only time that tears were replaced by chuckles of laughter at the funeral service.
During his remarks, Ohid paid special tribute to Sarah, playing her favourite song “Who says” by Selena Gomez, with the words of the chorus, “I’m no beauty queen, I’m just beautiful me”.
Sarah, who was born on Christmas Day, 2003, died early morning on Saturday September 17 after falling ill last Monday with fever, diarrhoea and vomiting.
The Standard Two pupil of the San Fernando TML Primary School stayed home from school that day and her parents sought medical attention at a private doctor, who had ruled out dengue haemorrhagic fever.
She returned to school on Tuesday September 13 and Wednesday September 14, but by Thursday her condition deteriorated.
her mother, Sherry Ann, took her for treatment at a nursing home, and when a test confirmed she had dengue, she was transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital.
She arrived at the San Fernando General Hospital in shock, and doctors said they fought to save her life. However, she passed away after six hours.
Her father, Kelly, a project engineer, said that before the illness she was a healthy child.
Also attending the service were members of the Cub Scouts from her school, of which she was a member. They placed pink and white roses in her casket and her cub scout leader placed an honorary scarf on her body.
Two pictures of Sarah were placed near her casket, with brightly coloured flowers and wreaths next to them.
A neighbour, Keith Ramdass, said Sarah had told him she wanted to be a housewife, and was passionate about cooking. “She was very polished,” Ramdass said. “She had the quality to be a statesman. She was very graceful. She was charismatic. Even if you didn’t know her, you would have found it in your heart to love her”.
Pastor Clyde Ramlochan, in delivering the sermon, told mourners that although she was a child, she had impacted on the lives of many persons, not just her parents.
Ramlochan said: “Remember parents, children are an inheritance from the Lord. Sarah was an inheritance and a reward from God. Those who see them as a distraction and a nuisance should see them as the future”. He appealed to parents to “introduce our children to God, to Jesus. Let us bring them to where they can find God so that there will be a change in Trinidad and Tobago”.
Sarah was buried at the Cap-de-Ville cemetery, near Point Fortin.
Teachers walk out, pupils sent home: no water
Once again, pupils of another school have been dismissed for lack of water on the premises, not due to the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), but internal problems within the school.
The school this time is the Signal Hill Secondary Comprehensive.
It was observed that a number of pupils were in fact leaving the school compound, as teachers walked off the job shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday September 19.
Around 1.30 p.m. an announcement came across the audio system in the school, indicating to students that classes were was dismissed.
Internal checks revealed the teachers’ toilets on the school compound were not able to flush properly, causing a heath hazard in the restrooms.
There are 59 female teachers at the school.
One school official, who asked not to be named, said pumps were installed at the school months ago, but were later stolen.
“As a result the problem of a low water supply started, but escalated yesterday. Officials of the Division of Education were informed of the matter, but nothing was done to date,” the school official said.
When contacted on the matter, Division of Education officials said the school’s concerns are being looked into, with an aim at addressing the problem, in the shortest possible time.
The school this time is the Signal Hill Secondary Comprehensive.
It was observed that a number of pupils were in fact leaving the school compound, as teachers walked off the job shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday September 19.
Around 1.30 p.m. an announcement came across the audio system in the school, indicating to students that classes were was dismissed.
Internal checks revealed the teachers’ toilets on the school compound were not able to flush properly, causing a heath hazard in the restrooms.
There are 59 female teachers at the school.
One school official, who asked not to be named, said pumps were installed at the school months ago, but were later stolen.
“As a result the problem of a low water supply started, but escalated yesterday. Officials of the Division of Education were informed of the matter, but nothing was done to date,” the school official said.
When contacted on the matter, Division of Education officials said the school’s concerns are being looked into, with an aim at addressing the problem, in the shortest possible time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)