VOL. 7, NO. 01 • January 9, 2013 618 Strouds Lane, Pickering, ON L1V 4S9 • Tel: 905.831-4402 • Fax: 416.292.2943 • Email: caribbeangraphic@rogers.com

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Guyanese consultant and trainer Sandra Ann Baptiste was recently awarded the prestigious Canadian Certified In-ternational Trade Professional (CITP) designation.

A Specialist in Caribbean Affairs, Baptiste is also an established journalist whose “Caribbean Perspectives” columns have been pub-lished in the Caribbean and North America, and currently in Carib-bean Graphic.

The Ottawa-based Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), which grants the CITP designation, noted that it is the highest level of professional accreditation available to business professionals in Canada. FITT develops international business programs, sets com-petency standards, and designs certification and accreditation pro-grams. Its strategic partners include the Canadian Export Devel-opment Corporation, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Baptiste, a Canadian citizen, is founder and Chief Executive Con-sultant of Carigold Associates, a group of Guyanese profession-als who provide training and consulting services in North Amer-ica and the Caribbean. She specialises in management, marketing,

Baptiste Gets International Trade Credentials

Scores of Guyanese of all races have expressed concern over what they say is a highly offensive and racially charged comment made by Opposition Leader David Granger on so-

cial media. Granger stated via the social media networking site Facebook, in

essence, that Indo-Guyanese were allegedly everyday literally re-sponsible for killing, raping, maligning and murdering their fellow East Indian brothers and sisters. He also argued that those in power were failing to protect their own.

“Readers of Stabroek News, Kaieteur News, Demerara Waves, Capitol News, and even Guyana Times will rapidly form one stark conclusion: it is not APNU or PNC political propaganda that ev-ery day a tragically and rapidly ballooning mass of Guyanese of Indian descent are being murdered, raped, mutilated, kidnapped, hijacked, pirated, trafficked, and extorted by other Guyanese of In-dian descent – typically those sheltered by the very people in politi-cal power saying that ‘apaan jhat’ will protect”.

Immediately after the comment was posted, scores of Guyanese took to their own Facebook pages expressing their dissatisfaction with the insensitive statements and the underlying rhetoric therein.

Others have also expressed their con-cerns over the dis-tasteful comments made by Granger, who has claimed previously that his APNU party was not formed to talk race or interested in race politics but is focused merely on establishing a gov-ernment of national unity.

The statement made by Granger is reportedly merely an excerpt from another politically insensitive piece penned and posted on his social media page. Already some politicians have indicated their readiness to ask the Opposition Leader to explain the meaning and intent of his apparently racist comments.

leadership and building customer loyalty.

She established and was the first head of the Guyana Office for Invest-ment (Go-Invest), served as a consultant on invest-ment and private sector development in Guyana’s Ministry of Finance and was also a Consultant to Caribbean Export, the European Union’s Carib-bean Office and the West Indian Commission. She recently served as Event Management Consultant for GuyExpo, the national trade show in Guyana.

A Graduate of City University in England and the University of the West Indies, she holds a M.A. in International Journalism, a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomas in Busi-ness Management and International Trade

Baptiste Gets International Trade Credentials

Granger’s Facebook Comments Deemed RacistGranger’s Facebook Comments Deemed Racist

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 2

Akua

Hinds

January 9, 2013

The year 2013 is here and mil-lions of people

in the world are still out of work. The econ-omy is still in a precari-ous state, and gradu-ates from post-secondary institutions are struggling to find work. Times might be tough, but when life hands you lemons, it is a perfect time to make lemonade. Home based-businesses are on the rise in North America because with home-based businesses you can create an unlimited income, set your work schedule, and concentrate on a career that you find meaningful and enjoyable.

If you are eager to pursue a home-based business opportunity but you aren’t certain what type of business to start, think about your skills, hobbies, and interests. Home-based business owners need to be dedicated, moti-vated, and passionate about their busi-nesses because if they are not, they will have a difficult time convincing oth-

ers to take their busi-nesses seriously. The home-based business you choose to start should be one that you 100 per cent be-lieve in. Don’t start a business solely on the

basis that you think you will make a lot of money with it. Your home-based business should be based upon your skills and passions.

There are several avenues you can take to building a home-based busi-ness. You can choose to start a business from scratch, or you can partner with an already established company and become an independent business own-er and distribute their products or ser-vices. Starting a business from scratch and operating it out of your home can be easy to do depending upon the busi-ness. A tutoring business operating from your home can be launched very quickly; just set up a home office space, distribute your business cards to peo-ple living in your area, and you can get

to work. If you would rather work with an already established company, network marketing businesses offer training support, promotional materi-als, and a proven sys-tem to present to your customers and clients. There are hundreds of different network

marketing compa-nies that you can join. Searching for network marketing suggestions on the Internet will bring up many results you can explore.

Sandra Dindayal is originally from Guy-ana and she has oper-ated a network mar-keting home-based international travel booking business for

Start The New Year Right, Invest In A Home-based Business

8 years. Dindayal lives in Brampton and she services clients from Canada and from the Caribbean and she also helps clients with their personal travel as well as their business travel needs.

“I enjoy the flexibility. Having that flexibility working from home, you can work whenever you want. Having a home-based travel business gives you the flexibility to book travel late at night when other travel agencies are closed. You’re open 7 days a week. If you have a store front you have to close when the mall closes. With the 7 days per week flexibility, I love working whenever my clients need me. You don’t always work 7 days a week but I love having the flexibility to service my client. The client can access me whenever there’s an emergency. That’s a plus for me working from my home and not having to say ‘Sorry, I have to drive to my office and get your file.’ It’s a plus for people to know they can reach me when they need me,”

Dindayal said. Home based businesses offer flex-

ibility, and most importantly, choice. The choice to start a home-based busi-ness is always available to you. Make a list of your interests and try to think of businesses that match your interests, skills, and abilities. Once you have de-cided on a home-based business idea, join a business networking group so that you can promote your business and form alliances with other profes-sional business owners.

It is your job and responsibility to market and manage your business, and attending networking events and trade shows is a cost effective way to gain more exposure for your company.

It can be tempting to think of your home-based business as an opportu-nity to spend more time sleeping in in-stead of working, but don’t fall into the trap of procrastinating; your business needs your nurturing, dedication, and attention in order to succeed.

CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 3

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Ashley Debysingh emerged as the 4th Runner-up in last year’s 2012 Miss

West Indian Cana-dian Pageant. She is currently study-ing Fashion Arts at Humber College. She has also com-pleted courses in

Applied Science and Technology, as well

as Practical Nurs-ing. An active music

student for over 8 years, Ashley plays

the harmonium and is also engaged

in vocal training. She is very proud of her Trinidadian

heritage.

January 9, 2013

The Guyana Christian Chari-ties (Canada) Inc. will be host-ing the 2013 version of its ever

popular annual Valentine’s Dinner & Dance on Saturday, February 16. Venue for this year’s gala will be Scar-borough’s Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall, located at 1490 Markham Road, just north of Hwy.401. The entrance to the Hall is from Milner Avenue, just west of Markham Road.

As in previous years, music for the occasion will be provided by the popu-lar “Double Ray” Guyanese combina-tion of Raymond Lee Own’s Triple Play Band, and the DJ sounds of Raymond

“Bake” Pereira. The $50 per person ticket price includes Hors d’œuvres served from 7:00 – 7:30 pm, dinner and the chance to win some very attractive door prizes.

As an event which usually sells out very quickly, the GCC’s Annual Val-entine’s Dance reportedly offers excel-lent value for money. Not to mention the very comforting knowledge that the Dinner Dance proceeds go towards funding the many wonderful needy causes that GCC supports.

Tickets for the Gala can be obtained from any GCC member or by email to info@gcccanada.org.

GCC Hosts Valentine’s Dinner Dance

Leela’s Tropical Nights will be the place to be come January 26th. The Scarborough Restaurant , most

conveniently located at 1154 Morningside Avenue (at Sheppard just north of Hwy 401) will be hosting its January Jump Up, featuring live music by the ever popular Fuh-Fun, Toronto’s most exciting live band. Fuh Fun will be backed by the DJ sounds of Boogie Down.

Ticket prices, which include Leela’s sumptuous multi-item All-You-Can Eat Dinner Buffet, are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets contact Lee-la’s directly at 416-281-8222. Limited seating. First come, first served.

Come To Leela’s For Food And Fuh FunCome To Leela’s For Food And Fuh Fun

It has been said that the purpose of pain is to birth

a change. The blood-shed, loss of life, and devastation that has followed the James-town/Rexdale neigh-bourhood for many years has been a source of great anguish to its residents. Perhaps Awake, which is a documen-tary drama (docu-drama) based on a terrifying true story, could be per-ceived as a symbol where transforma-tion and reconciliation can begin to emerge within the community.

Every word that was said during this 90 minute production was initially de-clared by the individuals who knew first-hand about the tragedy of Amon Beckles.

He was a young man that was just 18 years of age when he was shot and killed at church on November 18, 2005 while attending a funeral service of his best friend who too had been gunned down the week earlier.

Close to 100 people were interviewed

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 4

Christine

Reid

January 9, 2013

Awake: A Jamestown Storyto create Awake. Those who partici-pated in this project included current gang members and adoles-cents who are in pro-grams designed to provide a way out of

gangs. Child and youth workers, law enforcement officers and mothers who lost their children to gun violence con-tributed to this production.

In 2011 at the Toronto Fringe Fes-tival, Expect Productions launched Awake and it is now flourishing again at the Factory Theatre Mainspace at 125 Bathurst Street in Toronto begin-ning January 2-13, 2013.

At first glance, Awake deals with the subject matter of guns, violence and death. However the purpose of the play is not to promote such an agen-da. The docu-drama helps to draw awareness to the serious issue of gun/gang violence in at risk communities. Viewership of the play should not be confined to those who are affected by gun violence but by all those who truly

care about our country and the citizens within.

Although Jamestown is extensively known as an economically depressed neighbourhood weighed down by vi-olence, Awake makes it evident that is not the final characterization to af-fix on the residents of this area. This

dramatic piece, infused with dance-hall, gospel and hip hop music illus-trates that despite the ever increasing challenges of eradicating gun related offenses amongst young men in the prime of their lives, there still exists a strong sense of hope, inspiration and togetherness within this community.

CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 5

Caribbean PerspectiveJanuary 9, 2013

CARICOM’s On-Going Challenges and Priorities for 2013A year ago

C A R I C O M Chairman at

the time, Suriname’s President Desi Bout-erse, called for 2012 to be a significant year of change for the regional integration movement which will be marking its 40th anniversary this year. The outgoing Chairman St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony gave a harsh assessment of CARICOM in a recent address to the Barbados pri-vate sector, which left little doubt that the regional integration boat is drift-ing and still very much in need of a lifeboat.

The St. Lucian leader’s CARICOM review titled “CARICOM:QUO Vadis” was strangely enough the identical title of an earlier assessment of the integra-tion movement by Caribbean affairs expert Dr. Anthony Bryan, the former Director of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Institute of International Re-lations at the University of the West Indies.

He said as an institution, CARI-COM is “neutered” and further stat-ed that CARICOM member countries tend to pursue their different devel-opment and political strategies prag-matically, without consultation or co-ordination with other member states. As an example, Bryan observed that

the management of CARICOM rela-tions with Venezu-ela is not approached collectively.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gon-

salves recently called on Trinidad and Tobago to be “more engaged” with CARICOM and address how its fuel subsidy is affecting the rest of the re-gion in terms of trade and air transpor-tation. His St. Lucian counterpart Dr. Anthony said Trinidad and Tobago has to live up to its responsibility as a regional power. He contends that Trinidad and Tobago “has a unique opportunity to re-define its vision and its role in an emergent but troubled Caribbean.”

Guyana’s President Donald Ramo-tar agrees that Trinidad, which has the strongest economy in the region, can play a much bigger role in the region-al integration movement especially in the area of investment. He believes the Port of Spain administration is begin-ning to be more aware of the “extreme-ly important” role it can and should play.

He noted that Trinidad and Tobago is among those countries in the region finally sitting up and taking notice of the critical issue of food security in the region and the role that Guyana can

play in addressing this problem.Ramotar has also indicated that he is

encouraged by recent exploratory talks with a high-level Trinidad Ministry of Agriculture team on agricultural in-vestment opportunities in Guyana. In addition, the Jagdeo Initiative on Agri-culture is being accelerated.

On observations by other CARICOM member states that Trinidad enjoys a significant trade surplus with its CAR-ICOM partners and calls for a more level playing field in intra-regional trade, Ramotar said the private sector in the region needs to play a stronger role in addressing this persistent issue.

Ramotar reported progress in the area of free movement of persons with-in the region, including long-standing complaints of poor treatment of Guy-anese at the Barbados airport. On the current negotiations for a trade and de-velopment agreement with Canada, he stressed the importance of Canadian development assistance, especially to equip the region to improve its com-petitiveness, given that the accord will provide reciprocal duty-free access for goods.

The state of the region’s economies has not improved significantly over the past year but there are indications of “incipient growth” in some coun-tries, according to the Caribbean De-velopment Bank (CDB).

CDB President Dr. Warren Smith has

said that the Borrowing Member Coun-tries (BMCs) are beginning to take con-crete steps to diversify their economic structures, pointing to a new sizeable agro-industrial development in An-tigua and Barbuda and investment in medical tourism in Barbados. Smith has also seen progress with countries strengthening their financial and regu-latory systems, one of the CDB’s con-cerns he highlighted last year.

The CDB President has cautioned against expectations of significant growth in the region’s economies, noting that as long as the U.S. is in recession or emerging recession and the Euro Zone‘s debt crisis continues, Caribbean economies “will be hard pressed” to be on a robust growth path, with the exception of commod-ity exporting countries such as Guyana and Belize.

For 2013, CARICOM Secretary Gen-eral Irwin La Rocque has identified the restructuring of the CARICOM Secretariat as one of the priority ar-eas. It would be interesting to get an update on the 2012 priorities and how many of these have been advanced or implemented. The new CARICOM Chairman, Haiti’s President Michael Martelly, who is a newcomer to the CARICOM fold, will have a full plate of challenges over the next six months.(Sandra Ann Baptiste is a Business Consultant and

Specialist in Caribbean Affairs)

Sandra Ann

Baptiste

The urge to make resolutions to improve our lives in some desirable manner is often asso-ciated with the advent of any new year. 2013

having dawned, engagement in such activity would likely have been primary for many of us within the past week or two.

This year I am adopting a different approach. As opposed to engaging in the folly of developing a bunch of resolutions, only to see them broken by February, completely abandoned in March and to-tally forgotten come April, I have decided instead to simply become more ritualistic in my behaviour.

Among the Dictionary definitions of rituals are a) A detailed method of procedure faithfully or regu-larly followed e.g My household chores have become a morning ritual and b) Being part of an established routine e.g. a ritual glass of milk before bed. The of-ten unappreciated thing about rituals, however, is that they are commonly practiced by almost every-one who can be defined, to any degree, as successful.

Think of any person you know that’s been out-standingly successful in their field of endeavours. I’ll bet you that their engagement in some form of ritu-alistic behaviour is part and parcel to their success. Whether it be something as simple as getting up each morning at a specified time, or religiously adhering to a sophisticated program of daily activities.

Experience teaches us that when things are done

a certain way results can be almost guaranteed. Study well for an exam and your chances of achiev-ing a good grade will be that much greater than if you don’t. So the key making life enjoyable and ulti-mately more meaningful could simply be to discover and engage in the rituals that can contribute to your success.

Read any book on the achievement of financial success and somewhere in its pages the suggestion to “pay yourself first” will inevitably appear. So if financial well being has become one of your life’s goals, developing and engaging in the ritual of put-ting aside a decided percentage of every dollar you earn, would be a practice well worth pursuing.

Similarly, if healthier living is a concern of yours, likewise identify practices that will help you achieve that goal and simply engage in such with ritual-istic frequency. It could be something as simple as “watching what you eat” as means of controlling your weight, or engaging in regular exercise.

Personally- in the words of Robin Sharma author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - I have some Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs), I’d like to achieve this year. Thirteen in number, to be exact. To get anywhere close to full completion of that list by De-cember 31 therefore, I will have to be at my most resourceful, not to mention being far more efficient than I’ve ever been before.

As such I see the development and engagement in my own set of rituals, as key to the achievement of my desired objectives. On the flipside I’ll also have to be cognisant of the necessity to studiously avoid any engagement in practices which clearly haven’t worked before. As some wise person once said, the definition of insanity is to repeatedly engage in un-fruitful activity with the expectation of different results.

I wouldn’t want to give any of you additional rea-sons to label me mad than you may have had already. As lengthy as my not to be repeated list of mistakes may be, you can therefore rest assured that my at-tempts to avoid such will indeed be ritualistic.

With regards to the actual desired list of BHAG’s, first and foremost amongst those would be to give readers sufficient reason as to make Caribbean Graphic their number one choice from amongst all the available Caribbean Community newspapers! Regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.

To do so we will of course have to dislodge some that have now been around for decades longer than we have. So if any of you know of any specific rituals that can get us to that goal, I’m all ears. Happy New Year. May 2013 bring each and every one of you all that’s desired.

The curtain rolled down on 2012 with

the Caribbean Com-munity and Common Market (CARICOM) institutionally weak and its 15 member governments doing little more than paying lip ser-vice to the process of economic integration.

It seems that the only reason that several govern-ments do not declare CARICOM irrelevant and walk away from it is that they dare not. To do so, they would have to explain their action to their people. It is a discussion few government leaders would relish.

In recent years, Governments have simply opted not to utilise the benefits of regional arrangements, preferring instead to pursue separate deals in the hope that such deals would allow them to maintain national power. Just a few weeks ago at the open-ing of a meeting of CARICOM Trade Ministers, the Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM felt con-strained to say: “While as individual sovereign States we would be preoccupied with the responsibilities within our national borders, it would also be to our advantage to look to our regional arrangements as supportive even when they seem to add additional responsibilities”.

It is not as if the economic conditions in the major-ity of CARICOM countries are good. Barbados and the six independent countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have dangerously high debt to GDP ratios of over 65 percent and some are well over 100 per cent. Jamaica’s economy has been in dire straits for years and there appears little hope of a dramatic improvement anytime soon.

Indeed, many of these countries are already failed states, surviving only by grants and assistance given to them by external agencies.

As 2013 dawns, apart from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname, the prospects for the national economies of CARICOM states are bleak. None of

the 12 other CARICOM members has the means to provide the financial stimulus to grow their econo-mies and stem the rate of unemployment which is expanding and will get worse in 2013.

It is not a convincing argument for CARICOM governments to constantly point to the global eco-nomic situation as the principal cause for their coun-tries’ economic decline. Many of them were already

on a slippery slope before 2009 when the financial crisis began to bite. Further, other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America have done well despite being subject to the same global crisis. Economic growth in many of these countries has exceeded 7 per cent at the same time that the economies of the majority of CARICOM countries shrunk.

Making matters worse, with the exceptions of Bar-bados and Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM coun-tries have become reliant on Hugo Chavez - Vene-zuela’s President - for deferred payment for their oil needs under the Petro Caribe scheme. With President Chavez’s illness casting grave doubt over his ability to continue to lead Venezuela, even if he manages to be sworn-in as President on January 10, the like-lihood of continuing benefits under Petro Caribe is not at all certain.

To add to this troubling scenario, the Caribbean Development Bank – long respected internationally and trusted with funds from international financial institutions and donor governments for on-lending to CARICOM states – was downgraded twice in 2012 by Standard & Poor’s, dragged there by the failure of borrowing governments to repay loans.

Then there is the EU which has been a generous aid donor to CARICOM countries for over three decades. Faced with its own debt problems among some of its member states, the EU has introduced austerity measures domestically. In that situation, it has announced that upper-middle income develop-ing countries will no longer be eligible for EU aid. While, so far, CARICOM countries, as part of the Af-rican, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, have been shielded from ineligibility by the Cotonou Agree-

ment, there is no guarantee that this will continue after 2015 when the Agreement is reviewed. At that time, all but Guyana (lower middle income) and Hai-ti (low income) will be adversely affected.

The question that poses itself is: Haiti apart, why should a region of 6 million people with vast natural resources such as oil, gas, diamonds, gold, bauxite, uranium, tourism, financial services, fisheries, agri-culture (including sugar and rice), forestry and huge potential for renewable energy, be poor and suffer-ing? The answer lies in the failure of our govern-ments to perfect a single market and to work stead-fastly toward a single economy.

No one pretends that this task is easy. Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque has said that: “Many of our member states face constraints both technical and political which cannot be ignored or easily over-come”. Given the validity of that statement why has the Secretariat not sought a mandate to establish a team of competent persons to examine these con-straints wherever they exist and to identify prac-tical measures to deal with them within an agreed time frame? It cannot be sufficient to acknowledge the problem and yet to take no meaningful action to solve it.

If this backward march continues, many CARI-COM countries will go over the cliff, and eventual-ly CARICOM will be abandoned by those member countries that can do better by economic and politi-cal arrangements with others. In particular, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname may well find it beneficial to integrate their own economies more deeply and to jointly pursue arrangements with Bra-zil, Venezuela and other Latin American nations.

2013 can be the year of CARICOM’s final slide to oblivion with disastrous consequences for the major-ity of its member states, or it can be the year when leaders recognise the folly of shunning deeper re-gional integration and so take positive steps to re-enliven and deepen CARICOM.

(The writer is a Consultant and former Caribbean Diplomat) Reponses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 6

Sir Ronald

Sanders

Tony Mc

Publisher/Editor: Tony McWattEditorial Consultant : Malcolm CliffeContributors: Sandra Ann Baptiste, Beverly Brown, Akua Hinds, Christine Reid, Sir Ronald Sanders,Legal: Oumarally and BaboolalGraphic Design: Susan Zelinski

618 Strouds Lane, Pickering, ON L1V 4S9 • Tel: 905.831-4402 • Fax: 416.292.2943 • Email: caribbeangraphic@rogers.com • www.caribbeangraphic.ca

January 9, 2013

2013 - CARICOM irrelevant or essential?

No Resolutions, Only Rituals!

July 25, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 7CARIBBEAN GRAPHICJanuary 9, 2013 PAGE 7

July 25, 2012CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 8 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC January 9, 2013PAGE 8

Barbados BeatBarbados Beat

BRIDGETOWN, Although it has dropped one point this year, Barbados remains one of the 10 top selling trav-el destinations for 2013. In its Travel Trends Report 2013, globally-recog-nised tour operator, Kuoni, put Bar-bados at number eight as world-wide destinations of choice.

Vice-President of the Barbados Tourism Authority’s UK Office, Petra

Roach, has said that Kuoni was a very strong partner of the BTA. The BTA vice-president pointed out that Ku-oni, which has world wide distribution reach, had done a lot of work with Bar-bados, especially in the area of train-ing. She said the leading tour operator has global distribution presence that reached potential markets in Switzer-land and as far as India.

BRIDGETOWN, For the second consecutive year, teachers at Alexan-dra School who are represented by the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) will not be reporting for work at the start of the Hilary term.

They are expected to be joined by all other teachers who have been issued transfer letters as part of the shake-up at the St Peter school, which saw close to 20 teachers, including embat-tled principal Jeff Broomes and deputy Beverley Neblett-Lashley, being reas-signed to different schools.

While stressing that no industrial ac-tion was being taken, BSTU president Mary Redman has told the local me-

BRIDGETOWN, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart still sees the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) as doing a lot of window-dressing.

During a January 6 Rally, Stuart, the president and political leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), ad-vised the party faithful to completely ignore what he called the facade being put up by senior members of the BLP, pretending they like each other, just to

win the next general election.Stuart claimed that former Prime

Minister Owen Arthur was so desper-ate to get rid of ex-Opposition Leader Mia Mottley that he went as far as ask-ing the DLP to invite her into its fold. The Prime Minister made the charge in Belleplaine, St Andrew, where he officially opened the new campaign office of St Andrew candidate Irene Sandiford-Garner.

BRIDGETOWN, St. John’s residents will be able to access health care at the soon to be completed polyclinic dur-ing the first quarter of 2013. According to Minister of Health Donville Inniss, construction of the facility that would provide a wide range of health care services at the primary level, would be completed by year end and should be in full operation before the end of March.

Inniss was speaking to the media during a January 6 tour of the facility

along with the Minister of Family, Cul-ture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lash-ley, representatives from the Ministry of Social Care and parliamentary rep-resentative Mara Thompson.

Inniss said the multi-purpose com-munity complex, which would also house a constituency council office, Welfare Department, branch library, and Barbados’ first decentralized am-bulance service, was $3 million over budget, having been initially estimated at $16. 4 million.

BRIDGETOWN, Fifteen people were injured on January 4 when a Transport Board bus and a tow truck became involved in an accident on the narrow portion of Reeves Hill, in St. James.

Medical officials at the scene told re-porters that 14 of those were travelling in the bus going out of the City. The truck was driving behind the bus when the incident occurred.

One person was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – a female passen-

ger of the bus. She complained of low-er back pains.

All the others were treated at the scene by a team of four doctors and paramedics under the supervision of Medical Director of the Emergency Ambulance Service, Dr. David Byer.

Neither of the two drivers was in-jured, but a man who was sitting in a car which was being transported by the tow truck, was hurt. He was treated on the spot. Five ambulances responded to the mass casualty.

Out Again

Bees Not Ready

Polyclinic By March

Barbados Still Tops

15 Injured In Bus Crash

dia that the teachers were invited to the union’s Belleville, St Michael head-quarters for a January 7 meeting.

Redman has already indicated that at least three teachers, who are covered under a memorandum of understand-ing with the Ministry of Education and the International Labour Organization Convention 135, will be returning to Alexandra School.

BRIDGETOWN, Telecommuni-cations giant LIME has been put on notice by the island’s largest trade union that if it wants a fight they are prepared for battle. LIME, the trad-ing name of Cable & Wireless (Bar-bados), was told by the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) on January 7 that it was prepared to launch an island-wide strike against the tele-communications company if it did not recall the 97 letters of dismal is-sued earlier this month to workers.

LIME was absent from a January 7 meeting scheduled since Decem-

LIME Fight Brewing

ber 31, 2012, that was held between the BWU and the Minister of La-bour Esther Byer-Suckoo. Sir Roy said the absence of the representa-tives of LIME was an “insult to the entire island”.

On January 2 LIME announced that it would be laying off 97 em-ployees with immediate effect. Managing Director Alex McDonald said substantial losses have forced the company to make the cuts.

July 25, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 9

EC ReviewEC Review

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICJanuary 9, 2013 PAGE 9

CASTRIES, St. Lucia - Prime Minis-ter Dr. Kenny Anthony has said that St. Lucia has the largest fiscal deficit in the Caribbean as he prepared to address the nation on January 6 on the econom-ic challenges facing the island.

“In his address Anthony, who is also Finance Minister, was expected to out-line the economic difficulties facing the island amid calls from public sector trade unions for increased salaries for their members.

Prime Minister Anthony had cau-tioned that some order must be brought to the public finances through consolidation, and acknowledged that the country must be bold and brave in attracting investment. Anthony had earlier said that the wage negotiation is not solely a matter between the gov-

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is de-signing a project that offers temporary economic relief to unemployed people in the country. Prime Minister Bald-win Spencer has said that the three year project, which is being established with technical and financial assistance from the World Bank, will benefit at least 1,200 low-income unemployed people between the ages 17 and 50.

Spencer said the overall objective of these interventions is to increase em-ployment and incomes, remove people from hardship and at the same time helping them to maintain a dignified life.

He said that the global crisis has shown that social protection policies

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada - The main opposition New National Party (NNP) has confirmed that a senior member of the party has appeared in court on do-mestic violence related charges. NNP public relations officer Terry Forrester did not name the individual, but indi-cated that the party “has been made aware of a domestic incident involving one of our caretakers that has received the attention of the police”.

But Forrester said that the party “as a general point of policy, categorically denounces any acts of violence, par-

ticularly against women, regardless of circumstances”.

Media reports said that the “en-dorsed caretaker” for the St David constituency, Gabriel Henry, had been charged with using a dangerous in-strument in assaulting a female com-panion. He is on EC$6,000 (one EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) bail and is to appear in court on Monday January 7.

The NNP is preparing for a general election that Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has already acknowledged would be held this year.

ROSEAU, Dominican government-says it is hoping to sign an agreement later this year with the US-based Clin-ton Climate Initiative on the further developing the geothermal energy sec-tor programme here. The island’s am-bassador to the United Nations, Vince Henderson, speaking on the state-owned DBS radio on January 4, said the Clinton Foundation has shown support for the multi-million dollar programme.

Henderson said that the Roosevelt Skerrit government hopes that by 2015, the geothermal plant would also reduce the island’s green house gas

emissions.Last month, Prime Minister Roos-

evelt Skerrit said the government has spent more than EC$33 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) in develop-ing the geothermal industry. He said investment in the geothermal pro-gramme will help the island address a number of issues in the future includ-ing a reduction in the energy costs.

Skerrit said that this would allow for greater economic activity on the island “‘and we will see a growth in our econ-omy and we will also see the creation of thousands of jobs within the Domin-ican economy”.

Hoping For Assistance

Temporary Relief Forthcoming

are a critical element of national eco-nomic and social policies at all stages of development.

“The Initiative requires govern-ments to put the people first in eco-nomic policies, crisis management and in the development policy agenda,” he added.

Prime Minister Spencer said the gov-ernment pledges to adhere to the prin-ciples of the initiative by providing so-cietal insurance against perpetuating poverty and will continue to design tools to mitigate and overcome the ef-fects of the economic crisis as well as to strengthen economic resilience.

Senior Official Charged

ernment and the public sector unions, but it involves the entire country.

The unions are seeking a 16 per cent wage increase for the 2010-2012 tri-ennium, and called for the interven-tion of the prime minister after gov-ernment negotiators said they had no mandate to increase their offer of zero per cent increase and a onetime pay-ment of EC$1,000 (US$) One EC dol-lar= US$0.37 cents).

Be Bold And Brave KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gon-slaves is urging nationals to pur-chase shares in the Bank of St. Vin-cent and the Grenadines that on January 6 launched an initial public offering (IPO) hoping to raise ex-pansion capital of more than EC$17 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents). The former state-owned bank, is offering two million shares at a price of EC$8.64 and Gonsalves told a news conference “it is not a bad investment.

In November 2010, the govern-ment announced it had sold con-trolling interest in the financial institution to the East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Limit-ed (ECFH), parent company of the Bank of St. Lucia at a cost of EC$42 million. Gonsalves said then that the government would retain 49 per cent of the shares and divest 29 per cent of those shares to the coun-try’s National Insurance Service and citizens of SVG and the region within the next 12 months.

On January 7, he defended the decision to sell the shares to the

Share Purchases Urged

ECFH, in keeping with the policy of the Eastern Caribbean Curren-cy Union (ECCU) to consolidate indigenous banks, telling report-ers that a few years ago, a Trini-dad-based bank, which he did not name, had offered EC$500,000 for the entire bank. He told reporters that as a listed company, the bank allows stock holder access to a re-gional market place with greater liquidity.

Gonsalves said that the St. Vin-cent and the Grenadines gov-ernment holds 40 per cent of the shares in the bank and has already received dividends of more than EC$1.6 million during an 18 month period. He said given that the divi-dends for the first half of last year amounted to EC800, 000, he is an-ticipating a similar figure for the re-mainder of 2012.

July 25, 2012CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 10 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC January 9, 2013PAGE 10

Guyana DigestGuyana Digest

GEORGETOWN, The Coalition of African Guyanese Organisations on Sunday rebuffed assertions by sculptor, Ivor Thom that the Kitty Seawall Road is the best site for the 1823 Demerara Slave Revolt monument. Thom had explained the process and rationale for using the seawall site, saying that loca-tion would give it greater visibility to persons travelling up and down the East Coast Demerara.

But Dr. Melissa Ifill, speaking on behalf of the coalition, accused Thom of being more concerned about how many persons would see the monument rather than the historical significance of Parade Ground.

The Coalition, faced with blunt rejections by government for the

GEORGETOWN, The Ogle Air-port Inc. and Air Services Limited (ASL) are embroiled in yet another aircraft fuel-related controversy that could see the airline having to pay the airport for remedial works if it’s found that a fuel-line duct was not done to specifications, OAI officials have said. ASL Operations Manager, Annette Arjoon-Martins said her company had long re-ceived permission to dig up the taxiway to bury an electrical cable for its own fuel farm.

OAI Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Mekdeci said approval had been granted but ASL did not provide the airport authority with a design to ensure that the work would have been done to specifi-cations. Arguing that ASL’s action amounted to a “major breach of procedure,” OAI intends to call in

GEORGETOWN, On the morn-ing of January 6 an 18-year old man resisted two armed bandits, tak-ing away their cutlass and shotgun from them and forcing them to beat a hasty retreat, police said. Guy-ana Police Force spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker said about 1:30am on January 6 the men armed with a shotgun and a cutlass pushed open the door and entered the home of a man at Wismar, Linden. At the time the man was at home with his reputed wife and her 18-old son and daughter.

Whittaker said that the youth

confronted the man with the cut-lass and took it away from him, during which he received minor in-juries. The lad then confronted the man with the shotgun, while armed with the cutlass, and wrested the firearm from the bandit. During this scuffle a round was discharged which struck the roof of the build-ing. Both bandits made a hasty re-treat and escaped, the police force spokesman added.

The firearm, a 12 gauge shotgun, along with the cutlass were handed over to the police who are conduct-ing investigations.

Airport Spat

Bandits Forced To Retreat

Monument Site Proposal Rebuffed

monument to be located on Parade Ground, plans to build one of its own there because they say there is where slaves were tried, convicted and executed.

Ifill reiterated that the grouping of African organisations would ignore the government-financed monument and build one of its own on Parade Ground. She dismissed concerns by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank An-thony that a monument on Parade Ground would obstruct the play-ing of a number of ball games.

its own engineering consultant to consider whether the area should be dug up and replaced at ASL’s cost.

GEORGETOWN, Richard Bar-row, who was shot by police after he had escaped from custody, has been slapped a total of 22 years im-prisonment after he confessed to four counts of robbery under arms. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to a charge of escape form lawful custody when he appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo in the New Amsterdam Court on Jan-uary 4 .

However, he will serve only ten years behind bars.

Barrow, who was sent to the New Opportunity Corp as a juve-nile, went on a robbery spree dur-ing 2012 on January 27 in company with others.

Armed with a gun, he entered the business premises of Indranee Ramnarine of Number 7 Village, East Coast Berbice, robbed her of a quantity of artificial jewellery val-ued at $6,000, gold finger rings, ear rings and chains valued at $86,000 along with four wrist watches and a cellular phone valued at $17,000. Barrow also took away Digicel and GT&T phone cards valued $226,600. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Less than a month after the con-

vict was apprehended, but man-aged to escape from the custody of Constable Webster, who had detained him on a robbery under arms charge at Central Police Sta-tion , from where the charge of es-caping from lawful custody was instituted, to which he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to two-year imprisonment for the offence.

On February 3, the repeated of-fender, pretending to be a passen-ger en route from New Amster-dam to Corriverton, while in the vicinity of the Number 19 roadway, robbed the driver Chetram Shrikis-soon of $200,000 which was the property of James Ross. Another five-year jail term will run current-ly with the prison terms for previ-ous convictions.

Barrow also robbed Demerara Distilleries Ltd (DDL). employee and passenger Thekoordial Koshd-hal the sum of $14,000.

An additional five year custodi-al sentenced was imposed for this conviction. Barrow, further had an additional five-year sentence for stealing a mini bus valued $2M. However, the two latter sentences will run concurrently, totalling ten years of imprisonment.

GEORGETOWN, Officials of the Tourism Ministry have disclosed that last year was a very good one for tourism and that the “Redis-cover Home” campaign was a sig-nificant contributor to this success. This was revealed at a January 4th press conference hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce at the Ministry’s board room to highlight the Ministry’s strategy and tactics for the first quarter of the year.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh said that these tactics and strategy are put forth by the Ministry in an effort to boost tour-ist arrivals, increase occupancy and to create and sustain a demand for one of the largest tourism cam-paign “Destination Guyana.”

Acting Minister of Tourism, In-dustry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali stated that everyone would have recalled that in 2012 the Ministry campaigned under the “Rediscover Home” campaign, and as a result of the success of that campaign, the

22 Year Sentence

2012 A Good Year For Tourism

ministry will continue under the Rediscover Home campaign this year, however, the “fly line” “Cel-ebrate Your Life- Celebrate Your Home” will be added, so it will be known as “Rediscover home, Cel-ebrate Your Life, Celebrate Your Home”.

He also pointed out that the Re-discover Home campaign is such a successful model, it has resulted in Trinidad starting the year in the Di-aspora, by advertising extensively to their Diaspora market and the Ministry will continue to press that market, as it has tremendous po-tential for Guyana.

Ali noted that year 2012 saw an average of 17.2 percent in arrivals, over that of the previous year be-cause at the end of November 2012, the arrivals added up to approxi-mately 161,000, which compared to 2011 around the very same period of time, there were just 137,000 ar-rivals to Guyana.

CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 11

Jamaica YardJamaica Yard

January 9, 2013

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has acknowledged that while the record of her ruling People’s Na-tional Party (PNP) over the past 12 months “has not been perfect” her government came to office “at a dif-ficult time” and has since restored trust, brought back respect and de-cency to governance while making important progress in some key areas.

In a January 6 nationwide radio and television broadcast, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said the mission of uplifting the population and working towards economic in-dependence was challenged during the past year by the slippage of the Jamaican dollar.

She said Jamaica successfully re-duced the rate of murders, shoot-ings, robberies and sexual offences. There was an 18 per cent increase in the recovery of firearms and a 14 per cent increase in the recovery of ammunition. In relation to unem-ployment, she said the government

supported JEEP programme sur-passed the original phase-one tar-get of 5,000 people and employed over 17,000 by July last year.

She spoke of the developments in road rehabilitation and the millions of dollars spent in repairing the in-frastructure and providing assis-tance to people affected by the pas-sage of Hurricane Sandy last year.

She said an agreement with Cuba will see that country providing Ja-maica with almost 500 additional health professionals including doc-tors, nurses, medical technologists and nursing tutors.

But she told the nation that 2013 promises to be a year of “exciting economic initiatives” noting that the construction of the US$160 mil-lion north-south link of Highway 2000, an injection of more than US$200 million in the tourism sec-tor with the construction of various projects including leisure hotels Riu Palace and Fiesta Phase Two as well as Shanghai and Marriott busi-ness hotels.

KINGSTON, Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Planning, Growth and Economic Develop-ment Audley Shaw has said that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller failed to address the most critical issues facing the nation in her national broadcast.

Shaw said Simpson Miller failed to address the crisis of a rapid de-terioration in the economy with ris-ing prices for basic food items and other commodities, devaluation of the Jamaican dollar, the emergence of a black market for foreign ex-change, slippage in the Net Inter-national Reserves, and four consec-utive quarters of negative growth.

He said she provided no new information concerning the time frame for securing a new agree-ment with the International Mon-etary Fund (IMF), which is a key factor in restoring confidence in the economy, and that this silence on the IMF issue is disturbing as the opposition had called on the government to state categorically

KINGSTON, Trevor Heaven, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, has urged persons who can assist the police in finding the killers of businessman Melvin Chung to come forward. Heaven’s call comes as the police deepen their search to apprehend the killers of the 52-year-old Chung, who died on his father’s birthday, leaving a wife and four children — the youngest being six years.

Chung’s wife, who had to seek medical assistance because of the news of his callous murder, was too grief-stricken to speak with the media.

Chung, who operated five Total service stations in the Corporate

Area, was attacked and shot mul-tiple times outside one of his places of business, on East Street, on the afternoon of January 5.

Two firearms belonging to his security firm, Melan Security Ser-vices Limited, were stolen, along with cash estimated to be over $2 million, Superintendent Steve Mc-Gregor, who heads the Kingston Central Police Division, told local media. McGregor said also that in-vestigators will be looking into ex-tortion as a motive.

Regarding the issue of extortion, McGregor said the police have brought the scourge to “a low” in the downtown business district over the past two years.

KINGSTON, Christopher Lin-ton, the reputed leader of the Dog Paw Gang, was on January 3 ac-quitted of gun-related charges in the High Court Division of the Gun Court. Linton, who goes by the alias Dog Paw, was freed on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

The gun and ammunition were allegedly found in a refrigerator at a house in August Town, St. An-drew, where Linton was held by the police on January 24 last year.

The acquittal, however, does not mean that Linton will be set free, as

he’s to face trial in the Home Cir-cuit Court on January 18 for his al-leged role in the killing of a fam-ily in Bedward Gardens, August Town, in 2010. Two other men – Yannick Ellis and Donald Allen – are be tried along with Linton in relation to the murders.

Killed in that incident were 49-year-old bus driver Mornest Hylton, 31-year-old Dania Forbes, and six-year-old Jahame McKay. The bodies were burnt beyond rec-ognition. Before his apprehension, Linton headed the police list of most wanted men.

Bright 2013 Promised

Issues Not Addressed

Find Chung’s KillersGangster Acquitted

Rambo On Most Wanted List

the details and timetable of prior action requirements of the IMF in order for Jamaica to secure a new agreement.

Shaw noted that the prime min-ister instead ignored these major issues and repeated projects that had already been announced in the 2012/2013 budget and the sectoral debates of last year.

Shaw said the prime minister’s presentation was disappointing to critical stakeholders in the econo-my, including investors and small business owners who have lost confidence, as well as consumers who are suffering daily from sharp and punishing increases in the cost of living.

WASHINGTON D.C. United States, The United States Immi-gration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has identified a Ja-maican among 12 convicted felons on its “Most Wanted” list. ICE said that Clive Dixon, 45, also known as “Rambo”, is wanted for “unlawful re-entry after removal.”

The immigration agency said that on or about October 2, 1991, Dixon was convicted of criminal posses-sion of a loaded firearm in the third degree in Kings County (Brooklyn, New York) Supreme Court. The ICE states that on April 5, 1993, Dixon was deported from the Unit-ed States to Jamaica.

“At some point, he re-entered the

United States,” and on July 27, 2010, “Dixon fled from ICE officers when they attempted to arrest him.

ICE warned the public not to at-tempt to apprehend him, stating that if they have any information about him to contact the local ICE office or call the national hotline as soon as possible. The agency describes Dixon as dark-skinned, 5’ 8”, with brown eyes and black hair. His last known location was Greensboro, North Carolina, or “possibly in Brooklyn.”

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 12

Trinbago NewsTrinbago NewsGreen SeasoningCurry Powder

Kuchella MangoPolourie Mix

Green SeasoningCurry Powder

Kuchella MangoPolourie Mix

January 9, 2013

PORT OF SPAIN, The increase in teenage girls being reported “missing” is one of the major rea-sons why sexual offences for last year were the highest in the last five years. So said Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richard-son as he addressed the first police press briefing for the year, which was held at the Police Administra-tion Building in Port of Spain on January 6.

Last year, 1,020 sexual offences were reported, according to statis-tics from the Crime and Problem Analysis Branch of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. There were 241 more sexual offences re-

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago’s fifth President will be elected on February 15 and some top candidates are in the race, ac-cording to sources.

They are House Speaker Wade Mark, former head of British Pe-troleum, Robert Riley, and political analyst Dr. Hamid Ghany. Commu-nications Minister Jamal Moham-med, at the January 6 post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, announced that a meeting of the electoral col-lege will be convened on February

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) said it is in the “dark” regarding plans by the co-alition People’s Partnership gov-ernment to table legislation on January 7th providing for more au-tonomy for Tobago.

“It is a high point of vulgarity, lack of class, and crassness that washes this country when you see a government calling the Parlia-ment to session to lay in the Parlia-ment a bill to give Tobago internal self-government in the height of an election.

“As Opposition Leader, I have no idea what the Government is going to lay in the House,” Op-position Leader Dr. Keith Rowley said on January 6 at the launch of PNM candidates for the January 21 Tobago House of assembly (THA) election.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bis-sessar, who heads the four-party coalition that includes the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) that is seeking to end the 12-year rule of the PNM in the sister isle, said the new legislation would be introduced on January 7 with the debate starting on January 17.

She told TOP supporters that Cabinet in October had considered all the recommendations during consultations with Tobagonians and has drafted the Constitutional (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill 2012.

She said the legislation, which would require the support of the PNM in the Trinidad and Tobago parliament, would amend the Con-stitution to enhance the legislative and executive powers of the THA with a view to promoting internal self-government for the sister isle.

PORT OF SPAIN, The People’s National Movement (PNM) has gone into full election battle gear, with political leader Dr Keith Row-ley speaking of a possible alliance with Tobago heavyweight Hochoy Charles and former attorney gen-eral Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to run the country.

Rowley was speaking before a large January 6 crowd at Market Square in Scarborough where the PNM presented its 12-member slate for the January 21 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election.

Rowley was responding to claims by Tobago Organisation of the Peo-ple leader Ashworth Jack that the PNM was financing Charles, a for-mer THA chief secretary under the National Alliance for Reconstruc-tion (NAR) government, to split the TOP votes.

Rowley, who was ushered onto the platform with confetti and flag-waving, also put Tobagonians on notice that the PNM will not be rushed to support any legislation for internal self-government for the island as he criticised the “indecent haste” of the People’s Partnership Government to bring a bill to the Parliament this week.

He chastised the TOP leader and his team for treating with the is-sue of internal self-government as a joke.

He warned that it is a “serious matter”, adding that in any coun-try, any move to amend the Consti-tution was “serious business”.

During the presentations of can-didates, several political calpysoes punctuated the launch, which start-ed as a rally from Scarborough Port to Market Square.

Election Battle Launched

Teen Girls To Blame

Tobago Opposition In The Dark

ported last year than in 2009, which accounted for the second highest figure in the five-year period.

Asked to comment on the rise in sex crimes, Richardson said: “Young girls engaging in sexual ac-tivities and sometimes they leave home, they are reported as missing, and then when we go and investi-gate we find that they are in a rela-tionship.” Richardson said teenage girls, ranging in age from 14 to 16, were the main culprits.

15 – three days after Carnival – for the election of a new President to replace George Maxwell Richards.

Sources said Mark, Riley and Ghany, as well as Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith and Chief Justice Ivor Archie, were being considered.

New President To Be Elected

PORT OF SPAIN, It was a fete frenzy over the January 5 week-end, as Tribe and Fantasy heated up Port-of-Spain on with the first round of parties in this year’s 2013 jam-packed short Carnival season.

Defending Soca Monarch and

Road March champ Machel Mon-tano sent fans wild at Fantasy’s Cooler Fete, Pier I, Chaguaramas, while Bunji Garlin, a former Soca Monarch, got party-goers ready for the road at Tribe’s Ice Cooler Fete, Jean Pierre Complex.

Fete frenzy

PORT OF SPAIN, Machel Mon-tano has promised his fans that he will be at the Hasely Crawford Sta-dium on February 4 when he holds his annual Carnival event, “Machel Monday”.

Montano spoke during his Carni-val 2013 debut in the early hours of January 6 at the Fantasy cooler fete, titled “Savage Saturday”, at Pier 1, Chaguaramas. The reigning Soca and Road March Monarch made his remarks during an energy-filled set lasting more than three hours, in which he delved into his vast repertoire of hits, past and present, and also shared observations with his fans without actually referring to his present situation. Montano was last month found guilty of as-sault and is due to be sentenced on January 17. He faces a possible jail

term. “They can take everything away from me but they can’t take the music,” he said.

In addition to performing his Road March contender, “The Fog”, which has a pace made for the road and the double entendre opening line “This one going and fog up the place”, Montano shared the stage with Drupatee for a naughty and mesmerising performance of “In-dian Gyal”, their second collabo-ration, which comes several years after their first, “Real Unity”. To the awe of the crowd, Drupatee so aptly demonstrated the chorus of “wuk up the latie” that even Mon-tano had to pause for breath.

He also shared the stage with the HD dancers and fellow HD family members Farmer Nappy and Pa-trice Roberts.

Montano Promises Stadium Presence

Belly Bustas Take 3 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 13January 9, 2013

Fully Owned and Managed by Joe & Sandra!

Happy Hour Sat & Sun 5 - 8pm

Domestic Beer $3.00 each

Thur & Fri SpecialsAny 4 beers

+ DJ’SEvery Friday!

1 Order of Wings $20.00

Mix Drinks $3.50

Wife Whipping

Bill Payment

Bachelor Blues

Three men were sitting in a bar talking about how whipped they had their wives.

The first two kept bragging about how they could get their wives to do anything.

They looked at the third man and he said, “I have my wife so whipped that the other day I had

her crawling towards me on her hands and knees.”

Both of the other men were very impressed and asked him how he had managed that.

The man replied, “Well, I was ly-ing under the bed and she crawled over and said, “Come out and fight like a man!”.

Walking up to a department store’s fabric counter, the pretty girl said, “I would like to buy this ma-terial for a new dress. How much does it cost?”

“Only one kiss per yard,” replied the male clerk with a smirk.

“That’s fine,” said the girl. “I’ll take ten yards.”

With expectation and anticipa-tion written all over his face, the clerk quickly measured out the cloth, wrapped it up, then teasingly held it out.

The girl snapped up the package, pointed to the old geezer standing beside her, and smiled, “Grandpa will pay the bill.”

Two confirmed bachelors sat talking, their conversation drifted from politics to cooking.

“I got a cookbook once,” said one, “but I could never do anything

with it.” “Too much fancy work in it, eh?”

Asked the other. “You got it. Every one of the recipes began the same way - Take a clean dish.”

Home Affairs

Selwyn R.

BaboolalBianca

Aziz

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 14 January 9, 2013

The laws in Ontario with re-spect to losses occasioned as a result of a motor vehicle ac-

cident are complex and convoluted. In what follows, I will like to address specific instances where your insur-ance company may deny you cover-age for loss or damage to your vehicle:The Facts:1. Mr. Leon is a middle aged gentleman, who has

had motor vehicle coverage with Acme Insurance for over 20 years.

2. On a wet and rainy night in November, Mr. Leon loans his vehicle to his son, Leroy.

3. Leroy is 21 years old and resides with Mr. Leon.4. During the course of operation of the vehicle on a

major highway, Leroy loses control of the vehicle and crashes into a guardrail and a light pole.

5. The ambulance and fire service is called to the scene of the accident and Leroy is transported to the hospital.

6. Based on police interviews at the hospital and blood samples, Leroy is charged with impaired Driving and having Over 80 mgs of alcohol.

7. Mr. Leon is not advised by Leroy that he con-sumed alcohol or that he was charged with a criminal offence.

8. The vehicle is a total write off and Mr. Leon put in his claim for the loss.

9. The insurance is not made aware of the charges and within 2-3 months, pays out the value of the claim as well as the repair to the guardrail and the light pole.

10. Some months later, the insurance company finds out about Leroy’s criminal charges and insists that Mr. Leon pay back all of the money received by him.

11. Mr. Leon refuses and the company sues Mr. Leon and his son, Leroy for the return of all of the money paid out.

Can the insurance company refuse to pay out a claim given the circumstances in this case?

Can the company recover the money they already paid?

The main contention of the in-surance company is that Leroy was operating the vehicle with the con-sent of his father, the insured and.1. He was operating the vehicle with greater than 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milligrams of blood

contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada; and2. He was operating the vehicle while under the in-

fluence of alcohol.Section 7.2.2 of the Ontario Automobile Policy stip-

ulates that the insurer will not pay for loss or damage caused in an incident if the driver is unable to main-tain proper control of the automobile due to being under the influence of intoxicating substances.

The insurer will not pay for damages or losses if the driver is convicted of certain offences under the Criminal Code of Canada. These offences include, causing death by negligence, causing bodily harm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, operation of a motor vehicle while impaired or with more than 80 mgs of alcohol in the blood, refusal to comply with the de-mand for a breath sample, causing bodily harm while impaired or over 80 mgls and operating a motor ve-hicle while disqualified from doing so.

It is important to note that if another person drives or operates your vehicle with your permission under any of the preceding conditions, the insurer will not pay for any loss or damage that might occur.

In the case discussed, although Leroy was not con-victed of the criminal charges, Mr. Leon was never the less obliged to pay back the insurer the money they initially paid out to him to cover the loss.

The foregoing is intended for information purposes only and you should consult a lawyer if you need le-gal representation or a legal opinion.

Selwyn R. Baboolal is a partner at Oumarally Baboolal practicing in the area of litigation for the past 18 years.

Insurance Law

For many of us, home renova-tions will be a

big project this year. Whether you are think-ing about finishing a basement, redoing a bath-room or adding another floor, the following are tips for tackling a home renovation project:

• Check municipal building regulations. Building regulations vary from municipal-ity to municipality. Before beginning, find out what building permits you will require.

• Be realistic about the size of your project. Make sure you have enough time, money and supplies to complete the job.

• If you cannot live in your home for a period during the renovations, extending that pe-riod could become costly.

• Do some homework before you hire a con-tractor. It is important that you are comfort-able with the contractor’s ability to complete the job. Ask for referrals.

• Ask those you trust about their home reno-vation experiences.

• Do not overextend yourself

With interest rates as low as they are, now may be a good time to look at financing options to help complete that your contemplated renova-tion project. There are a lot of financing options out there, so make sure you find the appropriate one for you. Be realistic about the amount you can borrow and your ability to repay.

*The information in this article is not intended as specific in-vestment, financial, accounting, and legal or tax advice for any

individual.

Making Home Renovations Work

Happy New YearHappy New Year

CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 15January 9, 2013

Twenty-year old Kyshona Knight is the only uncapped player in West In-dies’ 15-member squad for the upcom-ing Women’s World Cup in Mumbai. Kyshona will join her twin sister Kycia Knight in the team led by wicket keep-er-batsman Merissa Aguilleira.

“It is a great feeling to be selected in the West Indies team with my sister,” Kyshona said. “This is a dream for both of us.

“I wanted to join her from the time she made the team last year and I’m pretty excited right now that our dream of playing together for the West Indies has been realised. Not many sis-

ters, especially twins, play the same sport and achieve similar success.”

West Indies are placed in Group A along with hosts India, Sri Lanka and three-time champions England. They will play the hosts in the opening match at the Wankhede Stadium on January 31.

West Indies squad: Merissa Aguil-leira (capt and wk), Stafanie Taylor (vc), Shemaine Campbelle, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Kycia Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Juliana Nero, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, June Ogle

PORT-OF-SPAIN, The final edi-tion of the Caribbean T20 Tourna-ment was officially opened on January 6 with cricket fans all over the world being treated to a cultural show at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain. The opening ceremony, which started at 5pm, was broadcast live by ESPN as the first half of the prestigious compe-tition began in grand style.

In a true representation of the “melt-ing pot” that is Trinidad and Tobago, fans were treated to calypso, chutney, soca, African dancing, Indian dances as well as belly dancing.

There were energetic performances from Kees Dieffenthaller, Chucky and Rikki Jai to name a few as the Trini-dad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Ministry of Arts and Multi-culturalism merged culture and sport as they had promised.

Meanwhile, Minister of Sport Anil Roberts welcomed the world to Trini-dad’s shores and said he is looking for-ward to an amazing tournament. “Wel-come to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago where you shall enjoy some of

the greatest cricket our region has to of-fer with our Carnival atmosphere,” he declared. Roberts also took the oppor-tunity to congratulate the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) and the Wind-ies team for their success in the World Twenty20 tournament last year but is now imploring them to focus on bet-tering their performances in Test crick-et which he deems the “holy grail”.

The Sports Minister noted that crick-et is not just a game to people in the region and implored the WICB and re-gional Governments to work together in harmony to lay the foundation for success.WICB CEO, Michael Muir-head, was also present and hailed the partnership with ESPN which will provide the means for persons across the globe to see the best the Caribbean teams have to offer.

He also commended the Govern-ment of TT and Minister Roberts for their keen interest cricket and also con-gratulated the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket board (TTCB) for co-hosting CT20 as well as putting on a fantastic ceremony which he feels has raised the bar even higher.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, A knee injury has ruled West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul out of the Caribbean Twen-ty 20 starting this weekend. Rampaul is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks, and his place in the Trini-dad & Tobago squad has been taken by quick bowler Rayad Emrit.

“After a medical assessment and an MRI scan, it was decided that he would not be fully fit for the tourna-ment,” T&T manager Omar Khan said, “and the recommendation is to rest him rather than taking a risk and play-ing him and he breaks down during the tournament which could put him out for a longer period of time.”

T&T are defending champions of the Caribbean T20, and have a squad full of renowned players, including Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine. Still, Khan said the ab-

MELBOURNE, Australia - A nasty on-field confrontation with star Aus-tralian leg-spinner Shane Warne on January 6 has plunged West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels into con-troversy yet again. The incident saw Warne throwing the ball directly at Samuels and striking the Jamaican who responded by tossing his bat in the legendary Test player’s direction.

And the ruckus, which erupted dur-ing the Big Bash game between Mel-bourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars, was further compounded when Samuels top-edged a bouncer from Lasith Malinga into his face and was forced to retire hurt.

He was subsequently taken to hospi-tal with a bloodied face.

The melee overshadowed the result

of the Melbourne derby which saw Samuels’ Renegades emerge with a comfortable nine wicket victory and continue at the top of the Big Bash standings.

Opting to bat first, the Stars tallied 146 for nine off their 20 overs, with England opener Luke Wright top-scor-ing with 29.

In the sixth over, Samuels seemed to restrain David Hussey, who made 23, from taking a second run and the two exchanged words over the episode.

The off-spinner finished with one for 26 from three overs.

When Renegades batted, Warne wel-comed Samuels’s arrival at the crease in the ninth over with an obscenity laced rant and the tension escalated with the ball and bat throwing incident.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts - Talismanic West Indies Women offspinner Anisa Mohammed will be targeting 100 wickets during the current One-Day International against South Africa.

The wily Trinidadian has taken a re-cord 85 wickets from 54 matches and believes she can achieve the coveted landmark during the five match series.

“I’m looking for 100. I pay close at-tention to the details in the game and I am 15 wickets away from 100. My aim is to look to get to 100 or as close as possible during the series against South Africa,” Mohammed said.

The 24-year-old has been the con-summate match-day performer for West Indies, and has taken 28 wickets in her last ten ODIs. Only last April in Barbados, she snatched a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the opening ODI of the three-match series that the hosts went on to win by a 2-1 margin.

“Before every year I set myself goals and before every series I set myself targets.

Last year one of my goals was to help the West Indies improve as a team and try to win the World T20 in Sri Lanka,” she explained.

Mohammed will be one of the key

Knight Joins Twin Sister In World Cup Squad

Samuels, Warne

Caribbean T20

sence of Rampaul will be a big loss. “It is a disappointment because Ravi is a West Indies bowler and he is one of our main bowlers in terms of opening the bowling and bowling at the death. We obviously have to make some adjust-ments and the technical staff will be looking at different strategies having lost Ravi as an option.”

T&T opened their campaign on Jan-uary 6th against Jamaica, another of the front-runners for the tournament.

Clash In Big BashMohammed Targeting 100 Wickets

players as the Windies take on South Africa in the upcoming series. Moham-med said she was confident the Carib-bean side would do well against the Proteas.

Rampaul OutRampaul Out

CARIBBEAN GRAPHICPAGE 16 January 9, 2013