Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Bollywood divas on ramp for Delhi Couture Week 2011


 


Delhi Couture Week 2011 was all glamour and glitter as the Bollywood stars not only graced the occasion but also scorched the ramps in dazzling creations by talented designers.

On the third-day of the ongoing Synergy1 Delhi Couture Week in the capital, Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor displayed the creation of Indian designer Manish Malhotra.

Shraddha Kapoor displayed a creation of Indian designer Anju Modi on July 24, 2011 and Sonakshi Sinha looked ravishing as ever as she walked the ramp in the creation of Indian designers Shantanu and Nikhil.

For the first time, yesteryear actress Sharmila Tagore walked the ramp in a ghaghra designed by Indian designers Ashima-Leena.

Though Madhuri Dixit did not walk the ramp she was present during the Indian designer Varun Bahl show on July 22.

Check out Bollywood beauties on ramp for Delhi Couture Week 2011.

YOUTH CONNECTION

Richard Ramsuchit
By: Aimee Balkissoon


SPOTLIGHT : UPCOMING TALENT Richard Ramsuchit


Richard Ramsuchit, a young entrepreneur and business man, launched Genesis Auto Detailing in September of 2010 in Brampton, Ontario.

Growing up in family businesses, his insight and experience is what makes his shop stand out.

Since the age of five Richard has been involved in business. He was working with his parents on weekends at flea markets across the GTA, and helping in his mother’s lingerie store while in middle school.

In 2004 his father had an accident at work which then started his life as a young entrepreneur.

At the age of 14 he took on the role of a business owner; managing a huge auto detailing operation for over four new car dealerships, seven employees and production of 25+ vehicles per day. This was a learning experience and made him mature early and grasp what responsibility is all about. Learning the aspect of auto detailing, the techniques, product lines, dealing with customers and handling payroll, Richard was running the business like a pro. His love for carsand business grew, and knew one day he would aspire to own his own business and work with the cars he loves.

In 2010, Genesis Auto Detailing was launched at Importfest Toronto. With a surprise to many friends and family, the journey now begun.

The shop started off with a bang, making a spot for itself in the Brampton community and local businesses.

In April of 2011, Richard teamed up with SLC Productions to hold a car show at Carleton University in Ottawa, home to over 25,000 students. Ever since that day Genesis Auto Detailing has been appearing at many car shows, quoted as the “detailing guy”.

His clientele has ranged from Rogers, Bacardi, DHL, Peel Police, City of Brampton, and several local dealerships and body shops. Services range from interior shampoo, waxing, window tinting, polishing, engine cleaning and hand washing.

He says his family, especially his father, played a huge roll in support for him opening the shop, and appreciates his help, guidance, expertise and training. Also his girlfriend Dayna for the continued support and encouragement, also for sitting in the sun for many hours at multiple car shows!

“ To open a shop is easy, to keep it open is an art “ – Chinese Proverb

Richard Ramsuchit
Phone: 905 463 2288
Email: Richard(at)CleanMyCarNow(dot)com

“My relationship with John Abraham is over for good” : Bipasha Basu …

Actor John Abraham had recently spoken about his past relationship with Bipasha Basu, on national television. Now, buzz that is doing the rounds is that Bipasha Basu is completely heart broken. On hearing this, Bips has furiously reacted to the media reports saying that it is sheer waste of time talking about past relationships.

“Waking up to stories about my life everyday is no fun! Making me sound tragic when I am in a happy place is not ok with me! (sic)” Bipasha posted on her Twitter page.

Though John chose to remain silent about his eight year long relationship, It was Bipasha who had admitted that she had parted ways with him. However, John blurted out everything the famous Simi Garewal’s talk show “India’s Most Desirable”.

“What happens between two people is supposed two stay between the two when its over. That’s the dignity that I have grown up with and the respect I deserve. I don’t need to be on a talk show to prove anything! My relationship with John Abraham is over for good for reasons known best to the both of us,” Bipasha tweeted.

“My break up happened almost a year ago! Why are these stories coming up now? Is it a PR exercise for a film or over imaginative journalism?” she added.

The couple parted ways long time back, though the news reached the media ears only on May this year.

Is food addiction real and how to control it ?

By: Sarah Balkissoon (lifestyle Editior)


Treating food addiction, a mental illness associated with anxiety and trauma, requires treating both mind and body

Amidst the everyday chaos of life, food is one of the simplest comforts. But for compulsive eaters, food is an easily accessible drug used in an attempt to fill a constant void. Associated with anxiety and trauma, food addiction is about more than monitoring what you eat, and can have serious health effects.

“Compulsive eating is not about a lack of willpower or knowledge of what to eat,” says Tauri Hall, a counsellor with the Hopewell eating disorder resource centre in Ottawa. “It’s typically a symptom of severe anxiety, diminished self-esteem or unresolved trauma. People with this disorder  focus on diets and weight loss, but the underlying issues are not resolved.”

Untreated, adds Diana Norton, also a counsellor with Hopewell, food addiction doesn’t go away. “If you look closely, someone with disordered eating has likely substituted food as a vice to help deal with something else, as others use overwork, alcohol or smoking.”

An individual suffering from binge eating, a characteristic of compulsive eating, engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, often followed by periods of depression and guilt. Many binge eaters are overweight or obese. Obesity can lead to an array of health issues including type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

The best treatment involves both mind and body. Here are some options:

  • Behaviour modification or psychotherapy counselling
  • A good nutritionist and a regular exercise routine
  • Meditation, yoga or an alternative spiritual practice to help manage stress
  • Medication (if determined helpful by a doctor)

“Our childhood experiences, including  trauma, can create deficits in our ability to cope with the challenges of life,” says Hall. “The best way to avoid problems in your children is to help  them express feelings. Allow them to have a voice, to know it’s natural to be angry, sad or hurt. Then help them express it in a healthy way, not by building negative habits.”

Aside from being a biological need, eating has become a pleasurable experience which is why the food industry, no matter which part of the world it is that you are in, has been one of the most successful business ventures over the years.

However, the problem lies in the fact that some individuals can fall victim to compulsive overeating disorder, which is more popularly known as food addiction.

Food addiction is characterized by an incontrollable impulse to binge on food. Those addicted tend to eat faster than normal, and despite the fact that they already feel a fullness in their stomach, food addicts still try to eat as much as they can.

As opposed to another eating disorder called bulimia wherein an individual goes on an eating binge and tries to fast, use a laxative or force themselves to vomit afterwards, a food addict does not feel the guilt after the fact. Just like those who have a drug addiction problem, food addiction leads individuals to feel a different high after they overeat.

Although there is no one factor which can be pinpointed as the specific cause of food addiction, it is more likely caused by emotional problems such as depression. In addition, if a food addict is unable to satisfy a craving, there is a physical manifestation of a headache or nausea.

Just like any type of addiction, food addiction has negative effects to your health so once you recognize the symptoms, you should immediately seek professional guidance and overcome this type of eating disorder. The first step to recovery is, of course, the realization and acceptance of the problem. Medically, individuals must identify which foods -- the trigger foods -- cause allergic symptoms and cravings.

There is no easy way to combat food addiction; it will require intense  discipline in modifying eating patterns and lifestyle. A manageable exercise program should be embraced along with dietary changes that may be maintained. Ambitious attempts to change eating patterns abruptly or to lose weight quickly rarely have longterm success.

The physiological and psychological dependency of food can best be broken when the individual recognizes that they are powerless to combat it alone. They  must look to God, who alone is able to provide help and  healing in this and all areas of human helplessness. As an individual seeks Him, he will find health and healing and recovery. “Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is”

Nicki Minaj pleads guilty

Nikki Minaj

Nicki Minaj, who headlined Reggae Sumfest in Catherine Hall, St James, on Saturday July 23, has been charged with indecent language. The Jamaica media reporting that Nicki Minaja whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj, was served with a summons by the police as she exited the venue
following her performance Sunday morning.

Senior Superintendent Linette Martin Williams gave a confirmation and noted that the Trinidad-born rapper is scheduled to appear in court sometime this week.

The rapper, who did not appear in court, was represented by local attorney Hugh Thompson, who entered an ex parte guilty plea on behalf of his client and paid the corresponding fees for the use of the expletives.

Entertainer Minaj fined $1000 for indecent language, according to police, her court date was set for Thursday, July 28. Her lawyer made an appeal for the matter to be put forward. He then pleaded guilty on her behalf and was fined JM$1,000.

It is not certain whether or not 28-year-old Minaj was in the island when it the matter was being dealt with in court.

On Saturday night she rocked a capacity audience attending the final night of this year’s staging of Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay.

Her performance, a first in Jamaica, contained many of her popular tracks, but was peppered with expletives accentuated by sexually suggestive dance moves.

For her troubles, Minaj earned the admiration of a Jamaican audience, as she easily eclipsed superstars like Wayne Wonder and Jah Cure.

As her set began to come to an end, Minaj swept into Hold Yuh, a remix of the mega-hit from Gyptian. The crowd was almost on the stage at this point.

Another interesting moment came when Minaj took a back seat to her dancers and allowed them free reign to tackle some of dancehall’s more enduring dance tunes. When the dancers showed they could do the ‘Dutty Wuk’, the crowd was more than a little appreciative.

Minaj did her fair share of dancing and acting as well, playing out parts that told the stories of the songs she rapped. Again, the audience appreciated what was a well rehearsed set. The artiste later gushed on her Twitter page, “I had the time of my life at Reggae Sumfest... Jamaica I fell in love tonight,” she tweeted.

20 persons murdered in one week

Twenty persons have been murdered within a one-week period, but the police are attempting to keep a lid on the figures at a time when four of the victims were decapitated.

“Have we lost our heads?” seems to be the collective thought of outraged and frightened Jamaicans, as sharp bladed instruments are chosen to inflict dastardly deeds.

Gary Emanuel Smith, a 37-year-old father of two, took his last breath - early Saturday morning, as a precursor to the mourning of members of the August Town community.

He was the fourth person to be beheaded last week.

The Police High Command and the political directorate have jumped at every opportunity to reel off figures showing that crime has dipped by more than 40 per cent for the first half of 2011 when compared with 2010. However, statistics and data are cold comfort to those recoiling in fear and terror from a revolting trend.

Signs are emerging that many inclined to commit murder are going back to the old days of sharp bladed instruments, but with a brand new level of venom and brutality.

The nation was shocked into silence when a man by the name of Scott Shane Thomas, 18, a labourer of Lauriston, was decapitated Tuesday of last week.

The shock had hardly worn off less than 48 hours later when the nation was horror-struck by news that two more persons had been beheaded.

The sensibilities of most law-abiding Jamaicans were jolted further, when it was revealed that the victims were women – a mother and daughter - Charmaine Couver-Rattray, 40, and her 19-year old daughter, Joeith Lynch otherwise called “Crystal”.

In the midst of the turmoil, sparked by the goriness of the slaughters, new information emerged that another Kingston College student was murdered.

The murder happened less than a month after another student, Khajeel Mais’ untimely death elicited thunderous reactions from Jamaicans.

The police say 15-year-old Timon Thompson, a resident of Bull Retreat in Gordon Town in St. Andrew was walking along the Mavis Bank main road about 5 a.m. last week Tuesday, when he was approached by a relative and stabbed with a sharp instrument. Blood continued to be shed senselessly, when a 13-year-old girl fatally stabbed a 21-year-old mother, who was in a state of pregnancy.

The alleged offending child is in a place of safety.

As Jamaicans recoiled in horror at the wretchedness of it all, almost unbelievably, news surfaced that yet another man was decapitated.

August Town residents woke to the news that one of their own had been taken out of his house brought to another section of the community where the gruesome act was performed.

REDJet will reverse pricing discrimination, says Guyana government

The government of Guyana is of the view that REDJet is now one of the options available to reverse the apparent pricing discrimination against Guyanese by Caribbean Airlines.

REDjet Logo
Head of the Presidential Secretariat  (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon, at a post-cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President on Wednesday praised President Bharrat Jagdeo for playing a pivotal role in resolving the REDJet issue, particularly because of its beneficial impact on Guyanese travellers.

He noted, “the current dispensation has Guyanese travellers paying as much to get to Trinidad as Trinidad travellers are paying to get to New York, a situation that is very perverse.”

The government’s concerns as it relates to freedom of movement recently saw the passage of amendments to the Caribbean Community (Free Entry of Skilled Nationals) Bill, which regulated the way in which skilled Guyanese who migrate are treated in a foreign country.

That piece of legislation is representative of additional steps taken by the government, to meet the required obligations under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, particularly free movement of skilled people.

Luncheon said, however, that this initiative will have to be reciprocated by participating states to allow for free movement and acceptance of Guyanese nationals to their countries.

“That to us is also emblematic of the heightened regional integration efforts… we have national interests that we have pursued but we don’t think that those interests in regional integration are just peculiarly Guyanese, all of the other participating States are likely beneficiaries,” he said.

Meanwhile, talks are ongoing between Guyana and the new Transport Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Devant Maharaj, with regard to setting up an in transit lounge for Guyanese. This should ease the hassles that Guyanese travellers face when in transit at the Piarco International Airport while en route to other destinations.

RedJet will commence flying from  Barbados to Trinidad and Trinidad to Georgetown, by September latest, as certain formalities have to be processed.

Korean investors eying Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Guyana has attracted the interest of Korea at the level of the government and business community following negotiations initiated by President Bharrat Jagdeo during his visit in 2010.

This disclosure was made by newly accredited Ambassador of Korea to Guyana, Kim Joo-teck, who presented his letters of credence to Jagdeo on Wednesday at the Office of the President, replacing his predecessor Won-Sun Choi, who was accredited two years ago.

Kim, a Harvard, Cambridge, and Massachusetts University graduate, is hoping to further promote the encouraging level of relations between the two countries during his tenure in Guyana, citing cooperation projects in information communication technology (ICT) and agriculture.

“These areas are of personal interest to President Jagdeo…. Many countries around the world including some Latin American and Caribbean countries are working to establish… e-government infrastructure with the  support of the Korean government so these days modern countries and societies may need to improve better
infrastructure for ICT… to be well connected with the rest of the world,” Kim explained.

In July last year a delegation comprising representatives from various public and private sector agencies in Korea met Jagdeo during a visit to Guyana as they brainstormed investment potential.

The team was led by Director General of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau in Korea’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry Choo Jonh Youn, who told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that possibilities were spotted in the mining, fisheries and agriculture sectors.

Jagdeo had stimulated the interest of Korean investors when he met with a group while in Seoul last year for the Business for the Environment (B4E) summit, after receiving the Champion of the Earth award.

The investors, among whom were from the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), chairman Lee Ju-tae, were told by the Guyanese leader of Guyana’s interest in Korean businesses participating in the development of national projects to boost mutual cooperation between the two countries.

He promised them that Guyana is prepared to welcome foreign businesses that invest in the development of resource mining and entrepreneurship and made  reference to Guyana’s oil fields, natural gases and oil drilling plans by international oil companies.

In 2005 Guyana and Korea signed an agreement for the promotion and protection of investments. Signatories to the accord were the then Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Clement Rohee and former Korean Ambassador Shin Shoong Chull.

The agreement was aimed at setting  the stage for Guyana to seek investment opportunities in Korea.

Fuad: “I did no wrong”

Dr. Fuad Khan

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan yesterday declared he has not broken any law or compromised his responsibilities by continuing to function in his private capacity as a urologist.

Khan made this statement yesterday as Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley criticised his actions and Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma defended him.

In a statement, Khan said he was called to serve in the Cabinet at short notice.

“This request came at a time when the health sector was in crisis and it was my belief that given my experience as a medical doctor, my knowledge of the system, my proficiency in management, coupled with my background in mediation, I possessed the requisite skills to make a positive impact on the system, to enforce change to bring about a vastly improved public health care for the benefit of all citizens,” Khan said. “It was on this basis that I accepted the call to serve.”

Khan said he informed his patients he would be suspending his medical practice because of his ministerial responsibilities. He also advised his patients to seek other urologists for assistance but was already overwhelmed with requests to conduct surgeries which he had already committed himself to.

In light of this, Khan said he felt it was appropriate for him to continue to clear the backlog of patients who were already scheduled for surgery under his care.

He proceeded to conduct surgeries on Saturdays and saw patients after  4 pm on Tuesdays. Stating neither of these activities compromised his ability to function as Health Minister, Khan said he has been advised by his lawyers he was not in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

“One cannot expect me as a medical practitioner to abandon my patients at the stroke of a pen and while some have expressed some ethical concerns in this matter, I can assure the public that my responsibilities as minister have not been compromised in any way,” Khan stated.

Rowley said it was unacceptable for Khan to continue his private practice following his appointment as Health Minister on June 26. Referring to a media report which quotes Khan as saying he did not inform Persad-Bissessar he was continuing his medical practice at the St Augustine Private Hospital, Rowley recalled he had warned the country that this could happen when questions were raised about whether it was appropriate for Jack Warner to simultaneously serve as a Cabinet minister and FIFA vicepresident.

Rowley said under the PNM, no health minister was allowed to undertake any action outside of their remit at private or public hospitals.

Sharma said he did not see any issue where Khan was concerned.

Sharma said his understanding was Khan was in the process of transferring his patients to other doctors.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan did not offer any opinion on Khan’s case but observed traditions outlining how government ministers conduct themselves have been long established and those traditions must always be practiced.

Finance Minister Winston Dookeran and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal declined to comment on the matter.

Persad-Bissessar said she had told Khan, a urologist, that not only was such behaviour inappropriate, but “it was untenable”.

In a release, Khan, the MP for San Juan/Barataria, stated his decision to cease his private medical practice.

Following is the statement:
“I have decided in essence to put my country first! We are in crucial times and each and every one of us must take responsibility for the direction in which we want our nation to develop. I love my country, and if this is the best  way I can serve, I stand ready, willing and able to answer that call. I now urge every citizen to work with me as we transform the public health sector.”

Boy, 14, in court for murder

A 14 year old boy appeared before a magistrate in San Fernando on Monday July 25 to answer a charge of murder.

The boy was arrested last Tuesday in connection with the murder of O’Brien George, 49, who was beaten to death on March 3.

On that day, George was accosted by four persons as he walked to his home at Springvale Avenue, Taradale, Ste Madeleine, according to police reports. He was beaten to death. Police reported the motive for the attack was robbery.

The boy is one of several persons arrested and charged for the killing, but only the 14-year-old appeared in court yesterday.

The boy was kept at the homicide office in the San Fernando Police Station, before he was taken to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. A policeman then escorted the boy before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.

The magistrate then read the charge against the boy that on March 3, 2011, at Taradale Gardens, Ste Madeleine, he murdered O’Brien George. The charge was laid indictably.

Ayers-Caesar asked the boy’s mother whether she was seeking the services of an attorney, and she replied: “Yes ma’am.”

The magistrate remanded the accused to the St Michael’s Home for Boys in Diego Martin to reappear on August 2. Another person has been charged with George’s murder.

Sex site link in murder of Mother and 2 children

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Cops killed 3 innocent people

The relatives of three people—a man and two women—shot dead by police on Friday July 22 are demanding
an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Abigail Johnson, 20, her best friend, Allana Duncan, 28, and construction worker, Kerron Eccles, 26, were shot and killed when police intercepted their car in Barrackpore around 9 p.m.

Police said officers were responding to a report that a man wanted for murder was seen in a car heading into
Barrackpore. There was a chase and the occupants opened fire on the officers, police said.

The officers responded wounding the three. They were pronounced dead at the Princes Town District Hospital. But their relatives believe it was a case of mistaken identity and are crying out for justice.

The suspect was not found in the vehicle, police said.

“My brother was innocent. There are people who saw what happened. The police said it was a roadblock, but they never stopped the car. They just started shooting. They kill the driver first. My brother walk out of the car alive. I don’t know how he ended up dead. People said my brother walk into the police car and by the time we reach the hospital he had a bullet to his chest,” Junior Eccles said.

The families were seeking legal advice and intend to lodge a complaint with the Police Complaints Authority.

“We need justice for this, it is not right. We are talking to people about it because the police cannot just go around killing innocent people. We now understand that the car in which they were travelling was a marked car by police, but that is not how police supposed to operate. They supposed to stop the car,” Eccles said.

Johnson, of Burton Trace, St Mary’s Village, Moruga, was the driving the car which she had borrowed from a friend. Duncan was the front seat passenger, while Eccles, a father of two, was the lone back seat passenger.Johnson’s aunt, Melissa Charles, said her family was also seeking legal advice.

“We want to know what happened and why they were killed. The police are killing innocent people,” she said. The bodies were removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James, where autopsies were performed Monday morning.

No green light for Mavado show; promoter cries

Jamaican dancehall artiste Mavado does not have permission to perform in Trinidad, at least not from National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy.

Responding to a question from a reporter about how the singer, with a known reputation for promoting violence in his songs, could gain permission to perform here, Sandy said, “Only if you have given it to him, I have not.”

Mavado, whose real name is David Constantine Brooks, is scheduled to perform alongside two other Jamaican dancehall acts, Konshens and Aidonna, on July 30, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, despite being banned from this country since 2006 for having violent lyrics.

Mavado’s last performance in Trinidad was on March 29 at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, and permission had been granted for that to the promoters by the Ministry.

Noel Smith, one of the promoters for the concert, said they had applied since April 1, for a waiver from the Ministry to allow the July 30 performance, but had received no word. He added that if they do not receive the requisite approval, “We will refund people their money... they’ll have to go back to the ticket seller and they will get a refund.”

Smith also said that it was unfair that his organisation should not be given permission when another promoter, whom he says is a member of the Congress of the People, was granted a similar waiver from the Ministry.

137 held in police raid

An anti-crime exercise throughout the Southern district resulted in the arrest of 137 people on various offences and 227 motorists were issues tickets for traffic offences.

A team of officers spearheaded by Senior Superintendent, Deodat Dulalchan, and including ASP Mohammed, Inspector Parson and Corporal Vijay Ramdhanie were involved in the 12-hour-long raid conducted by the Southern Division Task Force.

Police said five people were arrested for drunk driving, six for illegal gambling, eleven for housebreaking,
16 for larceny, 38 for narcotics and 61 on outstanding warrants for various offences.

Police said 80 motorists were issued tickets for failure to wear their seatbelt.

The suspects were charged at the San Fernando Police Station and are expected to appear before a magistrate this morning.

Farewell Pandit Basdeo Maharaj

Basdeo Maharaj
April 6th, 1951 – July 20th, 2011

“Never is he (Soul) born, nor does he die at any time, he has never been brought into being, nor shall come hereafter; unborn, eternal, permanent and ancient (primeval). When the body is slain, he is not slain.” - Bhagvad Gita

Pandit Basdeo Maharaj was a man of many shoes; he was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a spiritual leader, a coach, an employee, but above all these things he IS a soul.

To us, his children, he was a father, but we have seen in his passing that he was a father to all that he touched. This was most apparent when at his viewing an entire community of his coworkers, godchildren, cricket players and coaches, neighbours, and family came out to pay their respects. They shared their stories and it made us realise what our father did and how he lived his life.

He based his life on the principle of sacrifice, the unending yearning to give to others without expecting anything back. He learned to embody in his words, his actions, and his silence the virtue of love for humanity. Even though he has departed this physical body, it is undeniable that he lives on in the hearts and minds of all he encountered in this life.

The community that he touched will forever resonate in the melody of this great man, for he has set an example of what an individual can do, not for himself, but for others.

He left behind six children who are strong because of him, a wife who is was always a gentle warrior at his side, a grandchild who was an angel in his hands, a community of people who were the water that quenched his thirst, and he has finally joined Bhagvan who was forever the sun that shone in his life and continues to shine in his death.

May you be remembered and loved, but above all may those you influenced follow in your footsteps. We only have reason to celebrate that a man of God has returned happily to his maker and to make sure his work was not in vain. If there is anything he would want in his passing is that those who he touched continue to live life the way he had encouraged us to – to live in kindness, caring, humility, and compassion for others and for each other. We love you and may you have a safe journey!

“For death is certain to one who is born; to one who is dead, birth is certain; therefore, thou shalt not grieve for what is unavoidable.” - Bhagvad Gita

Caribbean Xpress spoke to some of Pandit-ji’s devotees who all stated that he will be missed and how little we knew about his unrelentless and humanitarian service to the community.

Ramesh Maharaj from Ram & Raj Puja Store has known him for 20 years and did not know he did all this community service and all the time spent helping people. All he knew is that he was a simple pundit who did pooja’s for his devotees.

Letter from the Publisher

Kellie Balkissoon

Recently, one topic continues to be brought to my attention by our readers; media and how it influences young women and men today. What puzzles me however is the fact that the media affects about 95 percent of all youths in today’s society.

Media can be used in a good way and but more frequently in a bad way. It affects youths in ways I’m sure they don’t know about as yet. In schools and at home, teachers and parents are constantly stressing the importance of using the internet in safe ways. As always, not a lot of youths listen to these warnings which leads me to my advice to those who use social websites including Facebook, MSN, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger, just to name a few.

A common problem we see today, is posting any and everything on websites such as Facebook. Information such as relationship status, employer, pictures and even what they’re thinking/feeling is out in the open for the world and yes not just your friends, but the world to see. This information, which should be considered personal, becomes a free for all. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing because I do have a Facebook account but all I’m trying to say is watch what information you put on the internet because it can get into the wrong hands and you can find yourself in a lot of trouble, and this goes out to everyone not just the youths.

For example; let’s say Mary puts every detail about her life on Facebook. She has details about what’s going on between her and her family, information about her boyfriend, places she’s going to, places she’s been etc. Now let’s say Ann sees all these things and uses it against Mary, and starts rumours about Mary. For one, Ann should be minding her own business and not getting herself involved in someone else’s life. But at the same time, Mary cannot really say anything to Ann because Mary is the one that wanted to put her life out there. In simple words, if you do not want anyone to talk about your life, then keep certain things to yourself.

Now that we’ve dealt with the negative impact, let’s talk about the positive. Sometimes people put certain things on Facebook to share events in their lives with their family and friends. In some cases, family members live abroad and they want to keep in touch with loved ones or maybe it’s a way to look back at memories and reminisce on those times.

Whatever the case may be, the media can be used for both positive and negative meanings but it is up to you to use it at your best interest. Starting unnecessary conflicts are, well unnecessary. If there are certain things you don’t want the world to talk about then maybe you shouldn’t have those “friends or people” on your list. Perhaps you shouldn’t post every single item
about your life on the websites.

Another reason why youths tend to display their whole lives on Facebook is because they want the world to see how “happy” and “great” their lives are opposed to everyone else’s. They post pictures of their “friends” and where they go or what they do, and it’s really not necessary. People do this because they want to portray a certain image to everyone else.

My advice is simple: be who you are. Once you stop doing what you think everyone wants you to do and stop trying to portray a certain life, your life will change and believe me, it will change for the better. Once you start thinking about yourself, there may be certain friends who walk out of your life and
when they do, that should show you that those individuals weren’t really your friends to begin with.

I would like to end by reminding all our readers to once again look out for Caribbean Xpress’ next issue which will be right after the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Our staff will be covering all the biggest fetes this upcoming weekend and will be front and centre at all the biggest shows.

Our photographers will be around, so make sure you look your best for a chance to be in our next issue. Also, look out for exclusive interviews with your favourite artists. Yes Toronto, Caribbean Xpress is doing it big and I invite you all to be a part of this revamp. Caribbean Xpress: Keeping you in touch with the Caribbean.

Evil Stalks T & T

Once again we are faced with a dreadful multiple murder in our society, and what makes some of these more frightening is that, once again, this is not apparently gang or drug related, but involved a young mother and two children in the presumed sanctity of their home.

The killing of Vonetta Haynes-Reyes, and her two little boys, Malik and Makasi Reyes, in La Horquetta on Thursday seems to have no discernable motive.

We have grown sadly accustomed to a range of alleged “motives” for the murders of our women and their children.

And while we try to come to terms with these killings in the east, we also have to face up to the dread of two connected, but separate suicides in south. One of them, Rehana Nandlal was a mere child of 15, who ran away from home on Monday, and was found frothing at the mouth on the steps of a church on Tuesday. She had drunk poison, and died shortly thereafter. In her diary, Rehana had described her “love affair” with a Health and Safety Officer at her school, a married man of 52. The following day, the man, Hydar Mohammed, also drank poison and died.

It is difficult to determine which is the more tragic story gripping our now battered society. How often in this year alone have we risen up in fear, anger, and horror at the violence being perpetrated upon our women and our young children? And make no mistake about it, however little Rehana might have thought that she was in love and in a loving relationship, she was an ongoing victim of rape by an older man, who appeared to have no plans to leave his wife for this child he was abusing.

As a society we need to address two questions, even as we wonder if these
can be answered.

The first is, given the number of women murdered this year, some even burned to death by their partners, how many of our women (and indeed their children) are now living among us and facing the possibility of being murdered?

And how many of our girl children are now living in similar sexual relationships as Rehana was, with older men? And we are not considering 17 to 21-year-old boys as “older men” here. We are talking about “full men” old enough to be the fathers (and sometimes they are!) of the girls whom they are abusing.

Given the frequency of the crimes against women and children, and the ongoing disappearances of young girls — some of whom are never seen alive again, although some seem to run away from what they perceive to be overly strict parents—we are facing a frightening prospect indeed.

We all need to be aware that the next victim of violence, or of ongoing sexual abuse could be our relative or neighbour, and that among the groups of schoolgirls wending their way between school and home, could be in some sexual relationships similar to Rehana’s. These are the potential next victims of murder and suicide.

But what can we do about it? These crimes are less “preventable” by the police than are the gang killings. Police sleuthing cannot unearth the type of evils which may have caused the deaths of the Reyes family, or stopped poor little Rehana drinking poison on her own terrifying and lonely last day. It is up to us, the society rather than the police, who must carry the burden of eliminating these horrors from our lives.

compliments Newsday

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Time’s up! - FIFA’s 48-hour ultimatum to CFU runs out

Mohamed bin Hammam

Acting president of the embattled Caribbean Football Union (CFU), Jamaican Captain Horace Burrell, says he expects all members yet to cooperate with FIFA’s Ethics Committee investigations into bribery allegations to comply in time to meet a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the world governing body of the sport.

FIFA has given Caribbean football leaders a last chance to explain their part in a Trinidad meeting where Mohamed bin Hammam allegedly offered them bribes, or face the possibility of life bans from football.

“All members of the CFU have agreed that they will comply with the latest FIFA order, and I expect that they will,” said Burrell, who is also president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

Football’s scandal-hit governing body sent letters Monday July 25 setting out a today deadline for CFU members to provide “truthful and complete” versions of events.

“Any person who has relevant information but does not come forward during this 48-hour period will be subject to the full range of sanctions,” FIFA said in a statement.

Of nine countries that are on record of co-operating with investigators, Burrell categorically stated that Jamaica was one of them.

“We (JFF) have co-operated with these investigations and were present at the Bahamas meetings conducted by former FBI director Louis Freeh, who is leading the investigation on behalf of FIFA. We spoke with Mr Freeh and the meeting was respectful from both sides,” said the CONCACAF Executive Committee member.

The CFU membership had refused to meet with Freeh and his team for interviews in Miami, but some complied when the venue was switched to the less prejudicial Bahamas last month. “Some members were not able to attend for various reasons,” Burrell said yesterday.

Last month as the story unravelled about the cash-for-vote that resulted in bin Hammam being banned for life by FIFA’s ethics committee on Saturday, Burrell had defended Jamaica by declaring that “we were neither offered nor received” any gifts. He has maintained that position.

The Qatari bin Hammam was accused of offering US$40,000 cash bribes to Caribbean officials to back his later-abandoned presidential bid to unseat Sepp Blatter.

In its letter to all 25 CFU members on Monday, FIFA asked “the associations, their presidents and any of their members... (for) knowledge of anything that transpired” in Trinidad at a May 10-11 conference, which bin Hammam acknowledges that he paid for.

“Following this 48-hour period, the ethics committee will be asked to open the necessary ethics proceedings,” the FIFA correspondent said. “Truthful and complete reporting will be considered in mitigation by the ethics committee when deciding on potential sanctions,” it added. With at least nine Caribbean countries said to have co-operated with FIFA’s investigation into the bribery claims, and a 10th — Cuba — was not present in Trinidad for the controversial meet.

Of the 15 remaining CFU members, 12 wrote testimonies denying the allegations
and supporting bin Hammam and Caribbean football powerbroker Jack Warner when they first appeared before FIFA’s ethics panel in May.

Those supporters were targeted in recent weeks by FIFA investigators, led by Freeh, but some did not cooperate or did not accept invitations to be quizzed in Miami and the Bahamas last month.

The sanctions threatened by FIFA could potentially remove the Caribbean’s most experienced football leaders.

Most are longtime allies of Warner, who avoided the ethics panel’s scrutiny by resigning from all his football positions last month, including his 28-year seat on FIFA’s executive committee, and his presidencies of the CONCACAF regional confederation and the CFU.

FIFA said Warner maintained a “presumption of innocence” as he returned to his job as a government minister in his native Trinidad and Tobago. Bin Hammam denies wrongdoing and has pledged to appeal his lifetime ban.

Two CFU staffers, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, got one-year bans from FIFA on Saturday for their part distributing the cash payments. Meanwhile, Burrell said he is anxious to see the ugly matter laid to rest and that the CFU can return to being a united family.

“It is important to remove this cloud and return to the business of getting the family back together and focused on the business of football... it is indeed a challenging time for Caribbean football and for me to take the reins at this time, but as leaders we have to expect this kind of thing,” he ended.

Government & Labour Unions at war

After talks to avert a possible public enterprise shutdown fell apart, unions yesterday declared war on the Government, as the Prime Minister stood firm on her stance in relation to the issue of a five percent wage increase ceiling and the possible restart of negotiations from “ground zero”.

Minutes after holding more than three hours of talks at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) presidentgeneral Ancel Roget told hundreds of trade unionists gathered outside of the building that it is now war with the Government.

“Because of this event, we have to declare war,” he told the crowd comprising members of several unions and others after he emerged from the building at about 6 pm. “We are an army and we are a disciplined army.”

“War! War! War! War!” the crowd chanted in response.

Roget told workers that the talks with the Prime Minister broke down because the Prime Minister could not indicate that she would issue a directive instructing State enterprises (which fall under the remit of boards
and the Finance Ministry) to assure that there is no five percent cap in negotiations. Talks also broke down
after the Prime Minister suggested that negotiations start again from zero percent.

Roget noted the trade unions are not open to further talks unless one pre-condition is fulfilled.

“We clarified before we left exactly what is required which is again the removal of the five percent wage ceiling. Once that is not done it makes no sense to meet with them,” he said. He said the Prime Minister, in frustration, dared unions to go ahead and shut down the country and terminated the meeting after she refused to promise to issue an instruction to all State enterprises that there is no five percent ceiling.

“She said, ‘well gentlemen I cannot give that commitment so shut-down the country’ and she got up and terminated the meeting,” one source said. Roget relayed this detail to the crowd outside.

Toronto Revellers sets the stage for Caribbean Carnival

Toronto Revellers

More than 2,000 junior masqueraders bared the Toronto heat as they jumped down Jane Street in the annual Kiddies Carnival this past week. After last year’s successful event, organizers decided to move the parade onto the main road anticipating the larger turnout.

“On Shoreham Road there isn’t the room to accommodate all the spectators,” explained Junior Carnival Parade organizer Greta Best. “By moving the reviewing stand to Jane Street literally thousands and thousands of people can see the kiddies performing
their routines in front of the judges.” For the past 10 years, the bands have been judged at the start of the parade along Shoreham Drive (Black Creek Pioneer Village).

However, this year the parade started on Shoreham Drive with the review stand about half way along the route which travelled from Shoreham to Jane, ending in the parking lot of the Yorkgate Mall (Jane & Finch).

While each band had three marshals per 20 masqueraders, a panel of five volunteer judges marked each band by visual impact, authenticity, creativity, mas on the move, clarity of theme, presentation and craftsmanship.

After all the jumping and waving, Jamaal Magloire’s Toronto Revellers band took the main prize for Junior Band of the Year, beating out Dexter Seusahai’s Tribal nights and Marcus
Eustace’s Carnival Nationz, who came in a close second and third respectively.

Toronto Revellers’ Jalen Gause won the Junior Male category for his portrayal of “The Timid King” while fellow Revellers’ Anastasia La Rose won the Junior Female category for her “Good
Witch of the North” costume.

Meanwhile, Tribal Knights’ Calena Seusahai and Carnival Nationz’
Demeko Minott took home the Junior Queen of the Bands and Junior King of the Bands awards respectively.

Here are the official results:


Junior Parade of the Bands
(Band Leader, Band, Theme, Points)

  • 1. Jamaal Magloire - Toronto Revellers - Welcome to Oz - 261
  • 2. Dexter Seusahai - Tribal Knights - Legends - 260
  • 3. Marcus Eustace - Carnival Nationz - Mythical Creatures - 259




Junior Male Individual
(Contestant, Portrayal, Band Leader/ Band, Band Theme)

  • 1. Jalen Gause - The Timid King - Jamaal Magloire/Toronto Revellers . Welcome to Oz
  • 2. Maven Lee - Symphony of D’ Sea - Mark Deleon/Mas Toronto - Mas in Atlantis, A Carnival Mythology
  • 3. Courtney St. Louis - Guardian of the Rainforest - Dexter Seusahai/Tribal Knights - Legends



Junior Female Individual
(Contestant, Portrayal, Band Leader/ Band, Band Theme)

  • 1. Anastasia La Rose - Good Witch of the North - Jamaal Magloire/Toronto Revellers - Welcome to Oz
  • 2. Canisha Edwards - Lost Treasures - Dexter Seusahai/Tribal Knights - Legends
  • 3. Sariah Seon - Jelly Jamboree, Shake and Wine - Mark Deleon/Mas Toronto - Mas In Atlantis, A Carnival Mythology


Junior Queen of the Bands
(Contestant, Portrayal, Band Leader/ Band, Band Theme)

  • 1. Calena Seusahai - Cleopatra - Dexter Seusahai/Tribal Knights - Legends
  • 2. Rebecca Martinez - Hope and Tranquility - Narisa Ali/Blues Carnival Fusion - Mirage of Drums
  • 3. Shanisse Kaola Jackson - Arabian Dancer - Will Morton/Fantazia International - Come Dance With Me


Junior King of the Bands
(Contestant, Portrayal, Band Leader/ Band, Band Theme)

  • 1. Demeko Minott - The Gryphon - Marcus Eustace/Carnival Nationz - Mythical Creatures
  • 2. Fabion Lee - Young King Neptune - Mark Deleon/Mas Toronto - Mas in Atlantis, A Carnival Mythology
  • 3. Ty Williamson - Tin Man - Jamaal Magloire/Toronto Revellers - Welcome to Oz

Toronto’s Calypso Monarch crowned

Bryan “Structure” Thornhill
Bryan “Structure” Thornhill brought a sold out crowd at the Chinese Cultural Centre’s P.C. Ho Theatre to its feet last Saturday (July 23) when he was crowned the 2011 Kaiso 365 Calypso Monarch champion.

Presented by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA), Structure won the hotly contested battle between the nine finalists for the fifth time with his renditions “Uprising Is First” and “Trenton Monster.”

The Barbadian-born singer, who also won the coveted People’s Choice Award, took home six other awards
including Best Lyrics, Melody, Presentation, Originality, Rendition and Humour.

Structure, who won the Calypso Monarch title in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007, took home a cash prize of $6,000 beating out five-time champion Michael “Beginner” Moore, two-time winner Pat “Pan Man Pat” McNeilly, Denise “Spice” Quammie-Alexander, Newton “Newton P” Philips, Steve “Mr.Wonderful” Clarke, inaugural champion Clieve “King Smokey” Henry, one-time winner Michael “Redman” Thomas and three-time and defending champion Eulith Tara “Macomere Fifi” Woods.

With the victory, he will represent Canada in London, U.K in next year’s Notting Hill Carnival, as part of an exchange program with the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC). As part of the program; last year’s London Calypso Monarch Alexander D’ Great made a special visit and performed several hits.

Structure, who entered the Calypso world in the 1980’s in his native home Barbados with the social commentary “Product of the Classroom,” was a regular in the yearly Pic-O-De-Crop competitions.

In 2002, after immigrating to Canada, he entered the OCPA Calypso Monarch competition and placed
second.

The Calypso Monarch competition attracts singers from across the GTA and beyond and has been held annually in Toronto for the past 30 years.

Here are the final results:

2011 Calypso Monarch Results


  • Winner: Bryan “Structure” Thornhill
  • 2 (tie):– Eulith “Macomere Fifi” Tara Woods (defending champion) & Pat “Pan Man Pat” McNeilly
  • 4: Michael “Beginner” Moore
  • 5: Denise “Spice” Quammie-Alexander
  • 6: Steve “Mr. Wonderful” Clarke
  • 7: (tie) Newton “Newton P” Phillips & Michael “Redman” Thomas
  • 8: King Smokey – Clieve “King Smokey” Henry


Special Awards

  • Best Lyrics: Structure – Trenton Monster
  • Best Melody: Structure – Trenton Monster
  • Best Presentation: (tie) Structure – Trenton Monster & Newton P - Old Age Pension
  • Most Original Calypso: Structure – Trenton Monster
  • Best Rendition: Structure – Trenton Monster
  • Best Composition on a local topic: Pan Man Pat – Stop The Gravy Train


Most Humorous Calypso:

  • Structure – Trenton Monster
  • Best Arrangement: Michael “Skel”
  • Redhead – Tackling The Issues (sung by Macomere Fifi)
  • People’s Choice: Structure