Mani Singh - NDP Candidate for Brampton-Springdale

The NDP Riding Association of Brampton-Springdale is pleased to announce that Mr. Mani Singh was nominated to be its Candidate for the upcoming Provincial Elections set for October 6th, 2011.

Mani Singh is a long time supporter and member of the NDP since emigrating to Canada over three decades ago. He is a community activist and champions the cause for equality and social justice in not only Canada but the whole world.

He is a Real Estate Agent by profession and has been with Re/Max West Realty Inc. since 1989. He has received the Re/Max Lifetime Achievement Award and is also a member of the distinguished Re/Max Hall of Fame.

He has lived and worked in the Brampton area for almost thirty years so he is very much aware of the issues and concerns of all Bramptonians, especially the residents of the Riding of Brampton-Springdale. Mani is indeed well suited to serving and representing the people of this community.

On October 6th, 2011, please vote for Mani Singh and send a strong, effective and consistent voice to Queen's Park. The needs of the people MUST come FIRST!

Phone : 905.794.9948
Twitter : http://twitter.com/manisinghndp
Facebook : Mani Singh Brampton-Springdale NDP

Letter from the Publisher

Nirvan Balkissoon

Dear Reader,

I hope everyone had a pleasant last two weeks since the last issue of this newspaper.

I unfortunately attended two funerals. It seems that Trinis die in a bunch in this country. The saddest part of all of this is the families that are left behind to cope and recover. No matter how old the departed is, the families are always devastated by their loss.

At the last viewing I attended, the Pundit was asked to speak and to share a message so that the family can feel some comfort. The Pundit got up calmly and spoke with a gentle voice  quoting the Bhagwat Gita, however when he started speaking about this world being a mirage I got confused. I have heard in the past from other Preachers about how this world is not real and its only an illusion and when we died then it becomes a reality.

I don’t know about that, as I always feel that this world is the reality and the illusion takes place only when we are asleep. I wondered if I was to slap someone will that not be real. Why does man fight for so much in this world? Isn’t that real? 

I would like to hear from you, the reader, on this matter: Do you think this world is an illusion and our life is not real? Write to us at: info@caribbeanxpress and let me hear from you.

Anyways, how about the big show coming up this Saturday in Mississauga with the T&Tec Gayatones, and especially the 11 year old Avinash Maharaj? He’s certainly an inspiration for many of our young and aspiring singers. This kid is fantastic and I am telling all of you if you don’t bring your kids to see this young man it will be a great loss of motivation and inspiration. This has been the first family night event since the Toronto Carnival weekend in August. 

We have some future events coming up for Divali but this is, by far, the biggest event for the year.

One of the hot topics is still the State of Emergency in Trinidad. The seizure of close to 100 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition, during the state of emergency, has garnered many well-justified songs of praise from law-abiding citizens for the nation’s security agencies most notably the Police Service and Regiment.

Yet, amidst all of the praise and words of encouragement, there are also voices raised in mockery at the work of the police and soldiers. Snide remarks are heard on radio talk shows and in letters to the newspapers over the seeming rusty condition of some of the firearms seized.

The naysayers have chosen not to look at these items for what they are — instruments of death and mayhem and one wonders what some of the cynics would do faced with a bandit pointing a rusty gun to his head.

No weapon, more specifically gun or pistol as far as we know, carries an expiry date on it. It is well known the world over that land mines and other munitions, used in decades-old wars and conflicts, dating as far back as World War II, over 60 years ago, have caused untold numbers of casualties when accidentally set off by unsuspecting persons.

Consider for example the practice by marijuana cultivators who use trap-guns to protect their plantations. And what exactly is a trap-gun?

A trap-gun is a very crude explosive device consisting usually of a length of steel pipe wide enough to hold a shotgun cartridge and fitted at one end with a  cocking device (a large nail) and a trigger (the prong of a fork or another nail). The trap-gun, once loaded, is either buried in the ground with the muzzle facing skyward or concealed in the bushes. Left to the elements of earth, wind and water, these trap-guns rapidly rust. Yet when triggered, they have never failed to fire, causing severe injuries and in some cases death, to those who stepped on the firing mechanism, usually a length of twine or nylon cord attached to the trigger.

We find it incredible that the very naysayers who gleefully call in to the many radio talk shows or write to the newspapers to laugh, mock and jeer at the ‘old, rusted guns’ found by the polie and soldiers, would if given a chance, never willingly step on a trap-gun, no matter how rusted and deteriorated it may appear to be. Yet they laugh and mock at the hard work of the police and soldiers who risk injury searching out any weapon new, old or rusty that could cause injury or death. 

No time to leave ship of state .

On the night of August 21, it was President George Maxwell Richards who signed the proclamation of the current State of Emergency. An emergency is proclaimed only in the event of a crisis so serious that in order to deal with it, the protective services must be given extraordinary powers and some of the fundamental rights of citizens are temporarily suspended.

As a result, numerous areas of the country are living under a nightly curfew; that number was increased two days ago. Over 2,000 citizens have been detained and numerous illegal weapons seized.

Nevertheless, President Richards thought it appropriate even under these circumstances to proceed with a month-long overseas vacation, and will be out of the country until October 5.

The President’s decision to go abroad came even after public criticism of the absence of the Commissioner of Police when the emergency was imposed. Commissioner Gibbs, however, was on official duties, at an international conference, and the decision to declare the emergency was taken after he had already left the country.

Although not an executive official, the President of Trinidad and Tobago, positioned above the arena of partisan politics, is the head of state, commanderin- chief of the armed forces, and a symbol of the rule of law and of democratic government.

While the emergency lasts, as yet unforeseen situations may arise in which the President is required to take swift and critical action.

His choice to go on vacation overseas during the present crisis may also undermine the public’s confidence in the justification for the emergency, and has already drawn criticism in the Parliament.

This is not the first time the President’s judgment has been called into question. In May 2009, he was on an overseas vacation when the Integrity Commission resigned. There were calls, which he did not heed, for him to return to explain his appointment of several commissioners who had been found not to be qualified to hold office.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is also planning to leave the country. She has attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and in October she goes to a Commonwealth meeting in Australia.

At the later meeting, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hand over the chair of the Commonwealth to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s presence there appears essential.

It is less clear, however, why was it absolutely necessary for her to travel to New York, where, she has said, she will also attend side meetings on issues such as non-communicable diseases.

The country’s leaders should heed the call of duty and remain at their posts during a State of Emergency. Now more than ever, at a time like this Trinidad and Tobago needs their governance, guidance, and moral and practical support.

Courtesy of Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday Newspaper

Diplomatic posting for Sat Maharaj’s daughter ?

Tongues are wagging in United National Congress (UNC) circles over a report that the daughter of Maha Sabha Secretary General Sat Maharaj, Vimala Tota-Maharaj, is being considered for a diplomatic post in Canada.

Vimala Tota-Mahara

This has sent shock waves among top officials of the Congress of the People (COP), who want to know why Stephen Kangal, a career diplomat, was blanked for the post.

Kangal, an expert in Maritime Law, served as acting High Commissioner to Canada some years ago. He was in the forefront of the campaign to “axe the tax” when the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration had passed legislation to raise land and building taxes.

The People’s Partnership (PP) government, of which the COP is a major partner, had promised during the 2010 general election campaign, not to implement the legislation if the party came into Government.

Tota-Maharaj, a senator under the former Basdeo Panday administration, is currently the principal of St Helena Hindu School. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has to give approval for the appointment.

Guyana's 2011 PPP Presidential Candidate Donald Ramoutar in Toronto Last Weekend

The Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) hosted yet another successful fund raising event in Toronto on Sunday September 18 at the Peter and Paul Banquet Hall.

Over 700 persons turned out for the occasion and the opportunity to interact with President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C 2011 Presidential Candidate Mr. Donald Ramotar.

More importantly they were keen to learn about the vision of the country’s next Head of State and his plans to continue and further accelerate Guyana’s significant growth rate.

Following his address the large turnout were vociferous in their calls to - Let Progress Continue in Guyana. Ramotar has been with the PPP for a very long time and is believed to be equipped as the presidential candidate.

At the event, Ramotar stated , “This election in some ways has some uniqueness in it. All the presidential candidates from all the various politicals parties are for the first time competeing in the elections as presidential candidates. So we can guarantee that there will be a new president. This is because of the change in the constitution in which a president will only have two terms and President Jagdeo’s second term has come to an end. If we did not have that clause then I am certain that Jagdeo would have been our presidential candidate because of the seamless work he has done.”

He also went on to explain how Guyana has changed since 1992.

“When we got in government in 1992 our economy was in total shambles and we had one of the highest debts in the world. We were spending 94% of revenues that we collected only to service the debts. If you added that to public service  salaries that added up to 110% of our GDP in 1992. Which meant we were borrowing to pay debts. The debts were 7 and 1/2 times our GDP. Today we have brought it down to 35%. We have also repaired most physical infrastructure in our country. We have also built more than 1000 schools since we got into office.”

PPC Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar

Ramotar also explained how the party has been successful when it came to healthcare and how the ecomony is still growing.

The PPC has a very good platform to further excel at a higher rate and have laid the foundation for a very rapid takeoff for Guyana.

Ramotar is hopeful that their party will win in the next election.

T&Tec Gaytones in Toronto

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
 DONNY GAYADEEN, RISHI GAYADEEN, 
VIDESH GAYADEEN & CAPIL GAYADEEN

On the night of Monday September 19, some of the members of the band T&Tec Gayatones arrived at Pearson Airport for the performance being held on Saturday September 24.

This is just the start of all performers arriving for the event. The entire event is comprised of 13 performers plus 2 surprise artistes.

Performers include: the band, Nadia Madoo, Neeshad Sultan, Oscar B, D’ Hitman, Soca Elvis and Avinash Maharaj.

All performers will be in Toronto by Friday for their dress rehearsal. The band is led by Rishi Gayadeen. Rishi Roland Gayadeen is a musician of extraordinary talent. At the tender age of six he began taking piano lessons and at twelve he began his musical career with the band T&TEC Gayatones.

For the past twenty years Rishi has performed around the world as Trinidad’s top keyboardist. He has performed in Canada, New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, England and India.

At home in Trinidad he is a well known arranger and producer for all the top chutney as well as some of the most popular calypso artistes, for example: Rikki Jai, Drupatee, Rooplal G., Vedish Sookoo, Rakesh Yankaran,  Rasika Dindial, Iwer George, Ronny Mc Intosh, Marcia Maranda, Machel Montano, Just to name a few.

When travelling abroad he has had the previllage to perform with Baron and top Indian artiste such as Sonu Nigum, Bankim Pattak and Anu Malik. Rishi has also worked with Reggae artiste Maxi Priests’ musicians, as well as Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Sizzler, Capleton and many others.

Rishi Gayadeen and his band is one of the most well known Indian / crossover bands in Trinidad, performing at all the top Carnival events, chutney shows, night clubs, wedding receptions, farewell nights and concerts.

You can expect nothing less than the best of him and his band.

The founder of the band was Balwant ‘Capil’ Gayadeen. From early on he knew he was destined to play music and once encouraged by his musically gifted family, the sky was the limit for this multi-talented artist.

Capil was the fouth of eight children of a singing mother who also played the dholak. Facinated by just the look of the instruments it was not long he began to play them that he knew his calling. Armed with a toy piano, harmonica and xylophone, Capil began mimicking the many film songs he heard on television and in movies.

By the age of thirteen he attended a friend’s band rehersal and was in awe of the music they produced. He begged to join their band as an apprentice or anything. It was then that he got his his first opportunity to play with a true band wasted no time in learning to play other instruments such as the accordian and began playing with them on stage.

After some time, he left to join a larger band, Naya Andaz in Princes Town where he was their keyboard player for four years. Always searching for better opportunities, Capil then joined the prestigious AMAR Sangeet Orchestra as the the keyboard and bongo player. During this time he carefully watched their guitar player ply his trade and within a year taught himself to play the lead guitar. And with this newfound instrument he would occasionally play with the BWIA National Indian Orchestra.

Then came the birth of “GAYATONES”.

Two of Capil’s most memorable moments in music were performing at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground for the 1999 World Cup Finals in England and India for the second annual Insian Diaspora in 2004.

The lead female singer is Nadia Madoo. She won the national ladies singing competition at the age of 17. In the face of competition from experience female singers, most in their twenties and thirties with many years of professional singing behind them, Nadia took the top prize. She repeated that feat the following year with ease. She is currently our undisputed female singing champion.

The competition among the seventeen entrants was very stiff. All of the women in the competition had the prior advantage of performing before large audiences. Nadia was one of the youngest, and her performance was remarkable, said one of the event organisers.

When she came on the stage, the audience was captivated by her poise, grace, elegance, charm and charisma. What struck all though, was her humble manner. She is a simple, well brought up young lady. She made a powerful impact on everyone that night, with hardly any effort, just by being herself, but this was not the last in Madoo’s journey to distinction.

Nadia Madoo won the first place in the Children of Mastana Series and was a finalist in the 1997 Mastana Bahar Programme. She combines her work with the T&Tec Gayatones Indian Orchestra with freelance work for some of the country’s top indian music bands, and manages to balance all this with her studies. She has toured extensively and is today one of the most sought after female singers.

As mentioned before, the big event will be taking place on Saturday September 24 at Soca Savanna in Mississuaga. All $20 earlybird tickets are sold out, bringing the price up to $25. Kids under 12 are free.

For more information please contact 416-919-5770 or 647-701-0406.

Is the T&T Embassy in Toronto haunted by a ghost of the UNC?

Are his qualifications “possessed”?

Is the Toronto Arm of the UNC still operational? And if so what is its influence in the hiring of diplomatic and clerical positions under the current People’s Partnership regime? These are some of the questions being asked by some of the members of the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora here in the GTA.

Several prominent members of the community have been wondering about the qualifications (or rather lack of) possessed by some new appointees to the Consulate, These businessmen, who wish to remain anonymous, only seek accountability and transparency in what they see as an abuse of power and privilege by the current High Commissioner Mr Philip Buxo, and several high ranking members of the PP.

It is alleged that several HR practices were overlooked in the hiring of Mr Capil Bissoon, to a position within the new Sheppard Avenue consulate. Mr Bissoon, a former car salesman, having had several jobs at Raceway and other auto dealerships within the GTA, was also a former Public Relations Officer in the Toronto arm of the UNC. Is Mr Bissoon the Media Relations Officer of the embassy? Was his former post as PRO sufficient experience for his current position? Was his position a result of the right qualifications or the result of the right party alliances of former UNC colleagues?

Those questions being asked by businessmen involved directly with the T&T community. It is also alleged Mr Bissoon has made several enemies within the embassy itself, with his demeanor and actions demoralising staff whose appointments were not politically inclined. These individuals who have earned their posts based on merit, allegedly have to bow to the political clout of Mr Bissoon or face potential dismissal.

It is alleged that Mr Bissoon got a former colleague fired with just correspondence to public servant contacts in Trinidad. The circumstances surrounding her being recalled from her post, and the perceived lack of performance of Mr Bissoon is a matter of interest to many. Some answers are required of Mr Philip Buxo, the High Commissioner, as to why such a member of staff is allowed to carry on in such an alleged malicious manner.

The latest news is that Capil Bissoon is insinuating that a local businessman wanted the job to remodel the Consul General building and that, this businessman has a spy at the Consul General’s office. When this newspaper spoke to the local businessman, he was surprised and shocked at this news and stated that he does not owned a Construction company and what will be his agenda to have a spy there. He also stated that this is how michevious and wicked this man are to make these statements.

Some are also questioning the security and confidentailty of peoples personal information as Mr. Bisson has access to this information.

Some other questions will be asked of Mr Buxo in the coming weeks, like why there is a lack of funding for T&T-related events in the GTA? Is there a policy for the PS to no longer support Indo-Caribbean entertainment? And are there reliable sources of financial accountability? We pose these questions and await answers.