Ictimes July08

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One month after Guyana’s 3rd massacre this year

No certainty who killed Lindo Creek miners

It’s been almost a month since the June 21 discovery of the biodies of eight men at the Lindo Creek, Berbice mining camp. But there is no more certainty about who killed the men or why than there is about the Lusignan massacre of January 26 and the Bartica massacre of February 17. All the public and the world knows for sure is that last month mine owner Leonard Arokium stumbled on the murdered and burnt bodies of what are believed to be his son Dax Arokium, 28, Cedric Arokium, 46, Compton ‘Tona’ Speirs and Horace Drakes of Meten-Meer-Zorg, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee of Tucville, ‘Bonny’ Harry of Annandale and Nigel Torres of Kwakwani. They had been dead for some days and the camp had been ransacked. As with the previous two massacres no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, and no one has been caught who could give an explanation. Crime experts from Trinidad, Jamaica and

Barbados have heen despatched to Guyana to help with identifying the bodies and finding out exactly what happened to the men. Camp owner Arokium has blamed Guyana’s security for the murders, but has offered no reasonable motive or explanation for such a clumsy and futile attempt to destroy the bodies. In their turn Guyana’s Joint Services security authority has blamed wanted fugitive Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins and his gang,, who are also blamed for the two earlier massacres. They also claim to have a witness, but have not produced a public statement from the witness. Nor is there any good reason why Rawlins would undertake hightly dangerous maneouvres in an area that was being controlled by security forces, just to dispose of miners in an isolated camp. Canada based Guyanese are anxiously seeking positive information, but as yet, none is available or likely any time soon.

The ruling People's National Movement has proposed to eliminate the position of prime minister and replace it with a president who will be chairman of the cabinet. Current Prime Minister Patrick Manning put forward a working document on constitution reform at the party's annual convention last week, that had come from a round table discussion group. This document is to be put out for debate shortly. The proposed president will be be an American style executive president much feared by opposition groups, but the person who commands the most support in a general election. He would appoint six miniters from Parliament and others from outside, and executive power will be exercised by the entire Cabinet accountable to the Parliament. Strangely, the president would not remain in Parliament but would resign his seat once he is selected. Ministers who were not chosen from elected MP's would be able to attend Par-

liament and take part in discussions but would have no vote. The members of the round table are: Manning (chairman), Christine Kangaloo, Bridgid Annisette-George, Peter Taylor, Lenny Saith, Karen Nunez-Teshiera, Sir Ellis Clarke, Tajmool Hosein, Selwyn Ryan, John La Guerre, Hamid Ghany and John Spence. Predictably, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday has poured scorn on the proposal asaying, "The Constitution is not about Manning. I don't care what he want to become, that is not relevant. " Commenting on Manning's approach to Constitutional change, Panday said, "I don't think constitutional reform ought to be in this piece meal kind of way. What we need is an entire constitution which, when put together, will conduce the advancement of the people." Government needs to consult with the people and also the Opposition, as it is only with the support of the Opposition that any changes can be made, said Panday.

Document calls for president to lead Trinidad & Tobago Patrick Manning may be last Trinidad prime minister

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Caribbean Hindus start Canada Day Satsangh & Hawan

A group of Caribbean Hindus started a new tradition on July 1 when they put on at Satsangh and Hawan at Bluffer’s Park, Scarborough, to pray for the nation’s health and prosperity. The function was well received and will continue next year.

More blows to Trinidad and Tobago’s reputation

Judge declares TT a failed state, UK says it’s a security threat

Trinidad and Tobago’s reputation took two more body blows this month, adding to the damage caused by the country’s name as the southern Caribbean’s kidnapping and murder capital.. Justice Peter Jamadar came out openly to declare that TT was a failed state. Speaking at the introduction of new lawyers last Friday, Justice Jamadar said that peace in the land would reign only when the law flourishes and blossoms. The judge said that judges of the High Court have little control and power. “But we judges do not have much. If you come into the profession for money in which your intention is to defeat the competitor, in a land which is a failed State, it will promise you nothing. Power and money will have no value.” Britain has declared that citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are a security risk and may have to apply for a visa from 2009 if they want to visit the United Kingdom. T&T is now on a British short list of 11 countries who are being assessed for threats from illegal immigration, crime and security, and is in danger of joining the 100 odd countries whose nationals must get visas to travel to the U.K. The British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said that unless that the security risk is significantly reduced within the next six

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CANADA & COMMUNITY NEWS

Indo-Caribbean Times

Ontario honours Adit Kumar Spending more of our money on health care

Veteran community activist Adit Kumar (right) with Minister Michael Chan Guyana born Adit Kumar, Chairman of their new homeland. He was also cited for the Vedic Cultural Centre South Asian Her- promoting living a healthy lifestyle in his itage Committee and South Asian Yasmin community. Yasmin Vali of Scarborough was recogVali of the Scarborough Hospital were were among a select group of ten who were hon- nized for the work she does in fostering dioured with this year’s Ontario New Comer versity awareness. She delivers workshops Champion Award. The presentation was to the staff of The Scarborough Hospital on made at a special awards presentation cer- Cultural sensitivity and is the co-founder of emony held at the historic St Lawrence the Volunteer Community Health Clinic Hall, Toronto on National Multiculturalism which provides adjustment services to newcomers responding to their needs for medDay. .This award is a tribute to Ontarians who ical and social care. Others receiving the Newcomer Chamhave gone the extra mile to help newcomers settle and integrate in Ontario. A new comer pion Award were Dr. Paul Caulford of champion is an individual who exemplifies Toronto,co-founder of the Volunteer Comexcellence or achievement in establishing munity Health Clinic where he provides welcoming communities in Ontario for medical care and social services to newnewcomers and/or fostering understanding comers. Dr. Peter Ashward Sealy of and sharing of Ontario’s many cultures. Toronto,a leader in promoting cultural harCreated in 2007 and given by the Govern- mony among newcomers, who has worked ment of Ontario through the Ministry of closely with both youth and senior newCitizenship and Immigration, the award comers throughout his 30 year career. recognizes Ontarians whose efforts have Liban A. Abdi of Hamilton, who has estabhelped to enrich and strengthen Ontario’s lished a Paedetric Clinic with Mc Master cultural diversity and illustrate positive ac- Children’s Hospital and initiated a Children’s Mental Health Program and has imtion that builds strong communities. The honourable Minister of Citizenship plemented programs to help settle and and Immigration, Michael Chan who pre- integrate newcomers into Canadian society. sented the awards remarked that “it is espe- Maureen Geddes of Chatham-Kent, who cially fitting that we are honouring these has founded the Cultural Coalition of champions on National Multiculturalism Chatam-Kent, a non-profit organization that Day when we celebrate the economic, so- welcomes and supports all cultural groups cial and cultural benefits of diversity. He and newcomers. Jeffrey Byunghun of North added that “Ontario is a more welcoming York, who has used his business to better the community through language heritage place because of them.” Adit Kumar who is also a columnist for programs, scholarships and participation in Indo Caribbean World was recognized for local charities. The New Pioneers Awards his role as principal organizer of the Annual Team of Toronto, which has recognized South Asian Heritage Program hosted by over 100 newcomers over the past 16 years the Vedic Cultural Centre. The program for their positive contributions to Ontario which celebrates the rich cultural heritage communities. For more on the awards go to of South Asia assists newcomers to adapt to www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/honours/nca.

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Canadians are spending more out of their own pockets on health care than they were two decades ago, increasing the risk for financial ruin among low-income earners, a new report says. According to GPI Atlantic, a Nova Scotia think-tank, the average Canadian spent $452 on health care in 2007, compared with $222 in 1981, in constant dollars. Report co-author Andrew Sharpe said Wednesday much of the increase was driven by two factors: the rising costs of health care not covered by provincial insurance, and the fact that fewer costs are being covered. "Optometrists in Ontario used to be covered by (Ontario health insurance) and that's no longer," Sharpe said. I n the last decade, the average cost of dental care in Canada went up more than 70 per cent, while eye care went up nearly 50 per cent. "Those were large increases well above the inflation rate," Sharpe said. In a 2007 survey, six per cent of Canadians reported they had spent more than $1,000 in the past year out-of-pocket on prescription drugs. Only the United States ranked higher, with 13 per cent of Americans reporting the same level of spending.

Awful US car sales to get worse

The slump facing auto makers in the United States that is also battering Ontario is expected to persist well into next year and could deepen, auto forecasting firms say.

The latest forecasting company to downgrade its forecast for U.S. vehicle sales J.D. Power and Associates - said yesterday that U.S. vehicle sales will fall to between 14 million and 14.5 million this year and will be at best only slighter better in 2009.

"The second half of [this] year will continue to be awfully tough on this industry," Bob Schnorbus, J.D. Power's chief economist, said during a conference call yesterday.

Mr. Schnorbus is in the midst of cutting his forecast for 2009, which has already been revised downward once to 14.9 million vehicles and is likely to come down another 500,000.U.S. sales hit 16.1 million units last year, so a drop of between 1.5 million and two million vehicles is the equivalent of what a mid-sized auto maker sells in the United States annually.

JULY 2008

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Canadian visa in exchange for investment

Immigration to Canada takes more than three years. But people desiring to invest Canadian $400,000 can get a fast track permanent residency or even Canadian citizenship in much lesser time under the investor category. Renaissance Capital Inc. (RCI), a Montreal-based investment facilitator has been helping investors 'jump-the-queue. ' RCI has been approved by the Quebec government in Canada. The investor can deposit $400,000 in government bonds, securities or in some social programs and businesses. If an investor does not have all that money, RCI can arrange a loan provided the immigrant pays non-refundable Canadian $120,000. The agency obtains all clearances from the federal and provincial governments concerned on behalf of the investors. An investor can buy land and do his/her own farming. About 3000 people have already taken advantage of the investor category and migrated to Canada.

Toronto is the safest big city in Canada

Greater Toronto is the safest large metropolitan area in the country, according to a report released yesterday by Statistics Canada. Among urban areas with a population of 500,000 or more, Toronto residents reported fewer crimes per capita than residents of Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa. Winnipeg had the highest crime rate, followed by Edmonton. It is the first time that Toronto has scored last place when it comes to crime in the country's biggest cities. That spot is usually reserved for Quebec City, which reported the lowest crime rate of any large metropolitan area every year from 1991 to 2006. In 2007, however, Quebec City reported 4,524 crimes per 100,000 people, compared to Toronto's figure of 4,461. The annual national crime report is compiled by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, based on police-reported crime statistics. It contradicts what seems to be a growing public perception that Toronto is rife with random violence – like the death of John O'Keefe, killed by a stray bullet on Yonge St. in January; or Hou Chang Mao, killed in gunfight crossfire a few days later in East Chinatown; or Dylan Ellis and Oliver Martin, shot dead in their SUV in front of Trinity Bellwoods Park in June. "Unfortunately, people's perceptions are often created around a single incident or a series of incidents over a short period of time," Police Chief Bill Blair said yesterday.

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COMMENTARY

Indo-Caribbean Times is published monthly in Toronto by Indo-Caribbean Times Ltd. Editor/Publisher: Ram Jagessar

Indo-Caribbean Times Not like when I was a child

JULY 2008

Page 4

Trini youth living in fear today, says Basdeo Panday Although as a child Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday had to walk four miles, barefooted, on a gravel road and through lonely areas to reach to school, he said: "We were safe, free and happy children, unlike the children of today." The youths of today, he said, "live in crippling fear of being kidnapped on their way to school, fear of being murdered, assaulted, robbed and raped. They are safe nowhere and at no time. Not even in sanctuary of their own homes." Appealing to the youths of the United National Congress during a Monday-night youth forum at Carapichaima, to take positive actions to protect their lives, Panday said they were experimenting by converting the party's Monday-night forum into the youth forum to get the youths to express themselves. "Unlike me, you are young and have a whole life ahead of you. I have already exhausted my biblical allotment of three scores and ten. The future is therefore yours, not mine. You deserve a better life to

live." He said gone are the days when in St Julien Village, Princes Town, he walked barefoot on a gravel road to his primary school. "I used to walk four miles barefooted on a gravel road to reach my school. In some places that road was very lonely with no houses sometimes for over a mile. "I was never afraid even though at times I was alone. I felt safe and secure. I never had a thought or feared that someone in the bushes would jump out and attack me. And indeed in all my years at St Julien nobody did." He said when his parents left the house at St Julien to go somewhere, leaving no one at home, the only reason they would close the front door was to prevent the dogs from entering the house. "The front door was never locked," he stressed. Comparing then and now, Panday asked the youths: "Do you want to live in a society where you exist in perpetual fear, not

knowing when your life would be snuffed out by some drug-crazed addict or by some vicious criminal not knowing when you would be scarred for life by some kidnapper, robber, rapist or some maniac? Do you want to live in a society in which you are constantly being discriminated against at every turn? Where your hopes of getting a decent job, owning a home and bringing up a family and feeding them properly is but a nebulous dream?" Urging them against throwing up their hands in the air in desperation, lying down, rolling over and dying or even drowning their sorrows in drinks, drugs and self-destruction, Panday urged them to join the youth forum and make a difference. "Take example of other youths in the other parts of the world, look at their determination to change the status quo which operates against them. What greater joy can you have when you participate in a struggle that changes the world and your society?" he asked.

family at Caura Royal Road, where her mother lives, or with the police. She has since been found.

Readers are also invited to look at the website www.indocaribbeanheritage.com which contains abundant information on Indo-Caribbeans in Canada and our Caribbean heritage and history.

A friend of Avita Bissoondatt has turned out to be the one who masterminded her kidnapping and captivity in the mountains for six days. But it was the same friend who, in the end, confessed to the crime, and took the police to the camp where Bissoondatt was being kept. Police rescued Bissoondatt killing one kidnap suspect while a second fled. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of three men. The investigation has expanded. The friend in custody confessed to police of their involvement in a kidnap gang, and of befriending several other people who were then made kidnap targets. Bissoondatt, 22, the niece of attorney Darin Bissoondatt, went missing two weeks ago, after leaving the family home at Soledad Road, Lange Park, to meet her friend, Shanice Ramcharan, at a restaurant at the Price Plaza Mall, Chaguanas. Bissoondatt's car was found burnt in Valencia the following morning. Soon after, a $300,000 ransom demand came. Ramcharan, 22, also vanished for several days, and failed to make contact with her

Khan. She has appeared in the Port of Spain Magistrates' Court on three charges -kidnapping, demanding money by menace and robbery. The enquiry will be heard in the Chaguanas Magistrates' Court, where the abduction began. And yesterday, while police were able to make that written breakthrough, they also returned to the scene where Bissoondatt was rescued. The officers conducted forensic tests on the blue, green and white shack hidden three miles deep in the forest off the North Coast Road where Bissoondatt was found. They also continued their search for one of Bissoondatt's captors. In the midst of the regular calm and quiet associated with the North Coast roadway during the week, the officers conducted investigations into the densely forested area. The entrance to the track leading to the shack is metres away from a wooden Sunshine Snacks sign. The few passing vehicles were oblivious to the detailed search. Only the five unmarked police vehicles, three sport utility vehicle, a van and a car, were a clue to the activity.

University of the West Indies lecturer Dr Jerome Teelucksingh says racial polarisation and marginalisation are destroying T&T. Speaking during a seminar organised by the Caribbean Historical Society and the National Joint Action Cultural Committee in Marabella, Teelucksingh said racial harmony and integration must be a part of T&T’s society. “ If this country allows some of our citizens to be neglected and marginalised, then we are living in a failed society. “If we ignore caring for the less fortunate and fail to protect the less vulnerable, then this is a failed society. “There must be strength in diversity, and no division must be encouraged, even by politicians and calypsonians.

“It is important to promote a positive environment at home and school to promote cordial race relations. “Teachers and parents must encourage children to be more tolerant of other ethnic groups, classes and religions.” Teelucksingh added that racial harmony seemed existent at the ground level, yet during election time polarisation was apparent. “We still have challenges today, but we must be united—all different ethnicities and religions—in a common goal, even though we appreciate our uniqueness,” Teelucksingh added that the East Indians’ tassa, dhantal, chowtal and sitar must blend with the steel pan, drums, guitars, pianos and violins, to sing and celebrate.

Editorial Committee: Reynold Ramdial, Gulcharan Mohabir, Lloyd Harradan, Sandy Kissoonsingh, Roop Misir, Deoraj Narine, Krishna Nankissoor, Rudy Lochan

Offi ficce: 17 Gaiety Drive, Toronto ON Canada M1H 1B9 Tel: 416-289-3898

E-Mail: [email protected]

Opinions given in this newspaper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Indo-Caribbean Times.

We welcome letters, e-mails and comments on matters relevant to Indo-Caribbeans in Canada and abroad, and also those at home in the Caribbean. All content must comply with the requirements of Canadian law.

A copy of this newspaper is posted on the internet in as a pdf file immediately after publication, and the entire contents can be read online by anyone with a computer and an internet connection. Past and current issues of the ICTimes can be found at http://www.esnips.com/web/Indo -CaribbeanTimes

Strange days in kidnapping

Young woman kidnaps her old school pal

Opinion: Racial polarising destroying TT

Avita smiles happily at her rescue

The break in the case came when investigators found a friend of Bissoondatt at the home of relatives in Morvant. The home was searched and the friend taken into custody. The friend helped police pull off Bissoondatt's rescue.. The mastermind is said to have given a detailed five-page statement to police in the presence of Justice of the Peace Ackbar

$2.6 billion set aside for early childhood care

The Trinidad and Tobago Government is to allocate $2.6 billion to construct 580 early childhood care and education centres over the next four years, according to Education Minister Esther Le Gendre. She told yesterday’s post-Cabinet news briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister at Whitehall that 150 of these centres are to be build by next year at a cost of $690 million. She said this funding is expected to be provided in the upcoming 2008/2009 budget. Le Gendre said 50 additional centres are to be constructed in “so-called

poverty areas” under a proposed InterAmerican Development Bank loan, which is expected to be signed before the end of this year. Tenders are to be invited from local and international companies, she said.

Le Gendre said the Government has agreed to revise the strategy for the construction of the centres and has also agreed to move the deadline for construction from 2010 to 2012.

“We’ve been concerned about the rising cost of the centres, as a result of the rising costs of construction material, labour etc., so that we are hoping that this strategy will give us what we are looking for, which is value for money,” she said.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO NEWS

Govt. tries to postpone local elections again

Government had defaulted on its promise to hold Local Government elections by October this year, and is now seeking to postpone these elections for yet another year. The Municipal Corporations Amendment Act has been introduced in Parliament calling for elections to be cancelled to allow for reform of the local government system. The Local Government elections are constitutionally due this month, however, there is a three-month grace period by which they must be called. Local Government Minister Hazel Manning has been hosting consultation on the reform process and informing the public about statistics in a Government commissioned MORI poll in which the local Government system is revealed to be ineffective and even corrupt. Opposition politician Chaguanas mayor Suruj Rambachan has said he believed the Government was afraid to call Local Government elections. "They are trying to manipulate the system for political purposes. They are setting the stage for the termination of Local Government" said Rambachan.

Ajay is best of 17,000 in SEA exam results Twelve-year- old Ajay Rameshwarsingh, a student of the Gandhi Memorial Vedic School, Aranjuez, won the top honors in this year's Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam beating 17,854 students for the first place. This year's second and third top places went to Tanuja Maharaj, a student of El Dorado South Hindu School, and Anthony Rajkumar of Curepe Presbyterian School respectively. Maharaj passed for St Joseph's Covent, St Joseph and Rajkumar will be heading to Hillview College, Tunapuna in Trinidad. An exuberant Ajay, who passed for Presentation College in Chaguanas, said that he knew he could have placed among the top 100 students but never expected to be the top student in the country. "I can't believe it. I am proud of myself. I knew I was going to place in the top 100 but not first," said a beaming Ajay. "I always studied consistently but always took time for relaxation especially to play cricket." Ajay added that he was interested in construction and would like to become a civil aviation engineer. Ajay's father Devendra Rameshwarsingh,

Indo-Caribbean Times

who resides in Norway but is visiting his son, said words would not be able to describe his happiness. "Tears showed everything," said Rameshwarsingh. Jade Pariag of Brothers Road Presbyterian Primary School and Jesse Benjamin of Newtown Boys' RC Primary School also tied for first place in 2006. In 2004, Rianna Gobin of Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School placed first while Danielle Stewart of St Gabriel Girls' RC Primary School did so in 2005.

Plan to make cassava flour falls apart

An ambitious plan to produce cassava flour by the end of the year has collapsed, and may not happen for another few years.The Trinidad and Tobago Agri-Business Association (TTABA) blamed agronomic practices in the farming community and has embarked on a tissue culture programme to improve the quality of cassava grown in Trinidad. TTABA spokesman Farouk Shah said that the manufacture of cassava flour was not competitive. "It costs too much to produce", he said explaining that four pounds of cassava was needed to produce one pound of flour. "TTABA has contracted farmers to produce cassava at a guaranteed price of $1.50 a pound, "he said adding that the cost of producing a pound of cassava flour would be more than $8 and until cassava was grown at reduced costs, the manufacture of flour would have to wait. Earlier this year several government officials advised people to use cassava flour as a replacement for wheat flour, which went up by 24 per cent last week. Despite the failure of the cassava flour project, TTABA has continued to give out contracts to farmers to produce the root crop and has set its target this year at 1,000 acres to bring in a harvest of up to 40,000 pounds. Shah said that cassava bought from farmers would be used in the manufacture of value added products such as biscuits, pancakes, chips, farine and finger foods. Cassava was praised as a local solution to the crisis of higher prices for imported flour, as well as a stimulant to the ailing local agricultural sector. The crop has been a staple of the native Amerindians for centuries but has recently fallen from favour with local farmers.

JULY 2008

Page 5

Forced to study "King" Bread rules at $10 a loaf theology at USC

A single hops bread now costs $1 and a white sandwich loaf goes for $10, after the latest price increases announced by the Trinidad and Tobago Bakers’ Association. The latest increase was caused by a 24 percent increase in the price of flour by the National Flour Mills. Not surprisingly, food inflation increased to 21.8 percent in May from 19.5 percent the previous month, Only in April this year National Flour Mills raised flour prices by 40 percent. The much loved hops bread then went up from 80 cents to 90 cents, and now tops $1. A 20ounce white sandwich loaf has increased by one dollar from $9.75 to $10.75, while a big roll of bread, weighing between 20 to 22 ounces, would now cost $10.50 up from $9.50. A 12-ounce butter bread is up to $5 from approximately $4.50. Whole wheat and specialty breads are expected to cost even more. Buyers are complaining bitterly about the unprecedented increases in flour prices by 64% in six months, and the effect on and foods made with flour. “All the food increases are madness. Bread is a basic commodity, and it is especially difficult when you have a large family to feed,” said one customer at At Linda’s Bakery in the capital city Port of Spain.

Floods destroy crops in South Trinidad

It's the rainy season in Trinidad, and as usual floods are destroying the crops planted by farmers in south Trinidad. Over the weekend fields of cabbage and tomatoes in Barrackpore. were washed away by raging flood waters following two nights of torrential rainfall. Farmers woke up to find acres of lands covered in water and could do nothing but count their losses. Some have lost all their crops and others have also lost property when floods invaded their homes damaging furniture and appliances. Areas of Debe and San Fernando also reported floods, but no one had to be rescued.

Patients leave - no beds in south hospital

Several patients left the San Fernando General Hospital recently, while others remained lying on stretchers for several hours inside the Accident and Emergency Department. And nurses complained that they were unable to admit them to the wards because there were no beds available. The shortage of beds has been a recurring problem at public health institutions throughout the country within recent months. Carla Mendez, 25, was among almost two dozen patients waiting on beds at the hospital. . "When we came here we waited for a while and then we saw a doctor. He treated her and said she needed to be admitted to the ward for further treatment. We have not been able to get a bed yet," said her husband, Richard Mendez.

Students of the University of the

Southern Caribbean (USC) are forced to take mandatory courses in Christian Theology as part of their degree programmes, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha has claimed. This was confirmed by Vania Serrieaux, a student of USC, who said she had to take a basic theology course while pursuing her degree in psychology. The SDMS joined the furore concerning alleged discrimination after President of USC r Trevor Gardner rejected the allegation by Independent Senator Basharat Ali that the university was practising “blatant discrimination.” Ali had said in the Senate that the requirement for a teaching position at the school was that the applicant had to be committed to high Christian standards and ethics. But in a telephone interview yesterday, Ali said he would like to see the matter investigated by the government as the situation may be a breach of the Equal Opportunity Act.

Teachers say USC degree is inferior

Two teachers have filed a constitutional motion against the Ministry of Education on the basis that it declared their USC degrees inferior to those awarded by the University of the West Indies. The motion, filed by attorneys Anand Ramlogan and Cindy Bhagwandeen in the San Fernando High Court, on behalf of teachers Vijesh Mahadeo and Vashti Mahabir, is set to come up for hearing before Justice Maureen Ragnauth-Lee on July 30. Mahadeo and Mahabir are seeking a declaration that the ministry unlawfully discriminated against them and that it had no power to second-guess the declared ruling by the Accreditation Council of T&T in favour of USC as a recognised tertiary education institution. The teachers are contending that by way of letter dated March 22, 2007 they were informed by the Ministry of Education that their B.Sc in Computer Information Systems was “deemed to be inadequate for the purpose of teaching at both the GCE A’Level and Cape Level.”

Water taxis delayed again

The start-up of the water taxi service has been pushed back to a further "two-and- ahalf months ". Works Minister Colm Imbert in explaining the apparent delay, said "It is not a simple thing of buying some boats and putting them in the water." He said the Government was in the final stages of selecting a marine operator out of the United States who has extensive experience in managing a similar ferry operation. The three vessels are in Trinidad, while a fourth to due to leave Europe within the next few days. And by the end of 2009/beginning of 2010 four new vessels will be joining the four used vessels, Imbert said during a recent press conference. Water taxis have long been touted as a solution for the North-South traffic jams.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CRIME TRENDS

House invasions, taxi robberies, bank card kidnapping, crimes against infants part of recent worrisome crime trends

6,000 Felicity Toddler killed residents want a police post Residents of the Central district of Felicity are weary of the crime upsurge of the the past few months and tired of having their MP paying his own money for private security. Approximately six thousand of them signed a crime petition that was handed over the Ministry of National Security and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service during a community crime meeting. The angry residents claim they have no security in their area and are demanding a permanent police post in Felicity, according to Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner. He claimed that for the past two months he has been forced to pay for private security in the area. “The residents are very fed up with the increasing crime rate in their area and they want to feel a sense of security. There has been a significant crime upsurge within the past two months and I have been forced to provide security for them in the interim. That is my main objective right now, to get a permanent police post in the area and to ensure frequent police patrols.” Chaguanas Mayor Surujrattan Rambachan also claimed there was a significant increase in criminal activities in the area.

Enter security tags for babies

Paediatric security tags have been introduced on the local market following last year's abduction of Jeremiah Henry from the Mt Hope Maternity Hospital. Infant security bands are to be placed on all newborn babies in hospitals. USA- based manufacturer Secure Care is supplying KinderGUARD for infant and paediatric protection that would ensure no babies are taken out of hospitals without permission. Each of the tags with information on the infant, is placed around the ankle of a newborn. It cannot be loosened to be removed, and will sound the alarm if the baby is moved from a specified area. Detectors can trace the movement of tags, and a tag can lock doors to prevent an abductor from proceeding further. If a tag is cut or tampered with, and alarm will sound. Each tag has a nine month life span and can be cleaned and reused.

Robbed by taxi driver and passengers

At 8.30 p.m. on a Thursday night, Rishie Duman took a "PH" car at Lord Street, San Fernando, but instead of being taken home, he was driven to Pleasantville and robbed by the driver and his three passengers.

Three-year-old toddler Roshini Ramdial was left by her mother in the care of a trusted friend in Charlieville as she went to work. But she was beaten beaten black and blue by the man and left in her crib to die. When the mother returned from work around 7 pm the child appeared to be sleeping, and it was not until the next morning that she was found to be dead. It was the latest incident in n upsurge in violent crimes against children within recent months. Baby Roshini's murder was similar to that of four-year-old Amy Annamunthodo who was allegedly beaten to death by her step father, Marlon King, who is awaiting trial.

Break down door bandits common

Spiritual Baptist Minister Rosalyn Lutchman was praying in bed in her Caparo home when seven thieves broke down the front door, and stole everything of value in the house. One of the thieves was a young woman, who spent her time trying on jewelry, shades and clothing, and modelled for her accomplices, investigators said. Moruga taxi driver Joseph Charles was sound asleep in bed around 2 a.m. on a recent Friday night when three men broke down his front door, entered his home and threatened to kill him. He leaped over a 15foot high balcony, breaking his right ankle, and escaped while the attackers stole valuables from his home. They took his wallet and the keys to his car but failed to drive out the car because they could not open the front gates. The incident occurred metres away from the St Mary's Police Postand when Charles called the St Mary's police there was no response. A Gasparillo mother and son woke to find armed thieves in their home, and were beaten by the men who then stole the family's car. Bhagwantee Beharry, 54, and her son Andy, 32, told police that two men with guns came into the house minutes before midnight on a Thursday night. Beharry, a seamstress, was robbed of $3,000 worth of jewelry and her son his watch, money, cellphone and a car, worth $60,000.

Indo-Caribbean Times

More electric fences going up

Electrified security fences are going up around housing developments, but there are no standards in Trinidad and Tobago to regulate them. Last week residents of Dibe Road , Long Circular, St James expressed concern about an electric fence that had been installed around a project in the area. The fence was installed by the Electric Fence Company of St Clair, a subsidiary of Venezuelan company Energico. The company's general manager Maxine Cook said the fence is not lethal, but will cause "a great deal of pain", and is their fourth installation in this country. She also said that the height is "perfectly legal" once casual contact with the fence was above five feet and within the boundaries of the property. She explained how the electric fence works-there is an energiser that converts 110 voltage into 7,000 to 10,000 volts of electricity. She stressed that the amperagethe strength of a current of electricity-is what is dangerous and in their fences, it is very low at 0.006. But residents outside the fence are not convinced. One woman said"I 'fraid that thing," adding she would not allow her grandchildren to visit, fearing they would be harmed by it.

Bandits use ads lure victims

Ingenious bandits have started using the newspaper classified advertisements for massages and used cars to lure unsuspecting victims to be robbed. . A man who answered a classified advertisement for a massage and another who responded to a car for sale advertisement were both robbed of thousands of dollars. The man who answered the classified advertisement for a massage service, visited the parlour and ended up bound, hands and feet and relieved of his money, jewelry and lap top computer. The man's report to Central Division Task Force officers triggered a raid on the house at Balmoral Park , Chaguanas. Two men were arrested at the home, which police said was being used by men seeking "massages" given by both male and female masseuses. In the other incident, Brian Haricharan, a scrap dealer responded to an advertisement for a car. With $60,000 cash, Haricharan visited St Johns Road , Claxton Bay to buy the car. When he arrived at the site, there was no car but there was a man with a gun waiting for Haricharan. The bandit demanded the money from Haricharan and es-

Youth robs a whole school caped on foot.

A 17-year-old secondary school dropout Jeffrey Burke has been charged with storming a Chaguanas private chool and robbing the principal, a teacher, and 11 students. It is alleged that on June 17, Burke went to Mohammed's Learning Centre, a private school at Edinburgh, Chaguanas. Burke is alleged to have robbed at knife-point, the principal, his wife who is a teacher at the school, and 11 teenagers in a classroom of money totalling more than $5,000.

Time running out for kidnap victim Ali JULY 2008

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Time is running out for kidnap victim Naail Ali, who was snatched outside his family's Gasparillo hardware on June 10. His family has reportedly paid a ransom for Ali's release, but the kidnappers failed to release him and are demanding more money. The family's offer of a $50,000 reward for any information which can help rescue him has failed to produce results. On June 15 police shot and killed Rawle Charles, suspected of being the mastermind of the kidnapping, in the Tabaquite forest. The Alis have closed their businesses, a hardware and furniture store, and sent home dozens of workers indefinitely. Ali, 25, manages one of the businesses. His mother is said to be suffering from depression, and his father sedated at the family's home.

Kidnapping for bank cards!

Police have shut down a Balmoral Park , Chaguanas robber's den that was used to keep people who were snatched off the streets by a gang at gun-point. Among the victims was a police constable, one of dozens over the past year. At the house, the victims were robbed of their cash and jewelry, forced to reveal their bank card's personal identification numbers, and kept captive while the money was withdrawn. There have been several reports of people waiting for taxis under the Chaguanas overpass being held up and taken away to be robbed and beaten.

St. Augustine ATM causes man’s death

A man was shot and killed by a robber after he withdrew money from a bank machine. Phillip Garcia, one of two men shot by a gunman on a bicycle at the St Augustine Shopping Plaza last died in hospital. He was robbed and killed after ATM at RBTT around 11.25 p.m last Saturday. Robberies at ATM’s have become increasingly common, causing many people to avoid using the machines outside banks, especially at night.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO NEWS

Bush says TT too rich to need duty free exports to US

US president George W Bush has declared that Trinidad and Tobago has become a "high income" country, and he is ending the designation of the country as a beneficiary developing country ...effective January 1, 2010 . He told the US congress that Trinidad and Tobago 's economy has been going so well that it no longer qualifies for duty-free access for exports. Unfortunately for local exporters, however, the new status means the Bush has cut off the country's preferential treatment under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to export a range of products duty-free into the American markets, in the next two years. "Termination is effective on January 1, of the second year following the year in which such determination is made. I have determined that Trinidad and Tobago has become a 'high income' country, and I am terminating the designation of that country as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of the GSP, effective January 1, 2010 ," Bush wrote. The GSP is a programme designed to promote "economic growth" in the developing world and provides preferential dutyfree access for the entry of more than 4,500 products from 131 designated beneficiary countries and territories. Minister in the Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne says the new development will only affect about "two per cent" of the country's exports, and was not threatening to business. The opposition Congress of the People claims it will have a tremendous impact on local exporters and a loss of jobs.

Trinidad has food security, says minister

Indo-Caribbean Times

Trinidad and Tobago is very lucky - it has oil and Patrick Manning. So stated Labour Minister Rennie Dumas as he sought to convince the House of Representatives that Trinidad and Tobago had been spared all the trauma other countries have been experiencing because of high food prices. Dumas said, when compared to other countries across the Caribbean and in the world, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago "was doing an excellent job in mitigating the impact of rising price levels in the international market". He said Trinidad and Tobago had been spared some of the extreme situations being experienced elsewhere. "We hear about food riots, extreme worker situations, malnutrition and starvation. We have been spared all that, not because people are mild-mannered but because the extreme conditions that drive people to that kind of action have not existed in Trinidad and Tobago ," Dumas said to thunderous table-thumping. On the issue of prices, Dumas said Barbadians were leaving their country to come to shop in Trinidad and Tobago groceries. On the issue of food security, he said. Trinidad and Tobago provided about 30 per cent of the food consumed here, which "compared favourably with most countries in the world". He claimed that, at this time, food security was mostly secured through trade. He said the fact that the percentage of the population under the poverty line had moved from 30 per cent to 17 per cent suggested that there was progress being made in the fight against poverty.

Tobago Hindus promised land for temple

Two lots of land have been promised by the Division of Labour and Settlements to the Hindu community in Tobago , according to president of the Hindu Association Pulwaty Beepath. "We were promised that we would be given land by the Assembly to build our temple and a cultural centre. We are waiting to see if this promise would be fulfilled," she told the Tobago News on the occasion of this year’s Indian Arrival Day.. East Indians celebrated the day at the Milford Road Esplanade with singing and a puja. Several persons journeyed from Trinidad to share in the festivities. Some groups which performed at the celebrations included the Amina Ramsaran Group, 3 Fri Davy Dancers, Dynamic Tasa Group, Sangeet Milan and Tobago stars Seta Beepath and Govinda Ramlogan. Pundit Satyanand Maharaj said, "It is difficult to think about Trinidad and Tobago without thinking about the East Indians. Being integrated in the society is something we need to be careful of. We need to learn to live together as one people, sharing in the various cultures. "It is hard to think of Trinidad and Tobago without doubles or dalpaurie roti, in the same vain no one culture makes up Trinidad and Tobago . It's the combination of all cultures that makes up Trinidad and Tobago ," he added. "Its our maturity as a nation to respect each other and appreciate each other's culture that makes up our country," he said.

E-mail: [email protected]

JULY 2008

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Dial 811 for new ememergency medical help

Dial 811...and medical help is on the way.This was the assurance given by chief executive officer of Global Medical Response of TT (GMRTT) Paul Anderson after launching the new emergency number. This, Anderson said, was in an effort to improve the ambulance service in TT, thereby providing better medical help for patients throughout the country. He said TT had one of the better ambulance services in the Caribbean , and GMRTT was the first accredited Emergency Medical Service system outside of North America . “We have drastically improved the reliability of the Trinidad EMS system to meet the need for emergency care services.” Anderson said the new system must be used only for emergency medical transportation because to do otherwise would be to deprive other citizens who are in crisis for immediate assistance. He added that complaints from the public about the long time they had to wait on ambulance in their time of need was because, in the past, they would call the health sector requesting ambulance service instead of to GMRTT. Health Minister Jerry Narace said there were 31 ambulances, with as many as 25 of them on the road at one time. He said GMRTT handled nearly 200 calls a day — over 5,000 calls a month– and 96 percent were responded to within 31 minutes. Ambulances operate from 13 bases in Port-of- Spain , St James, Arima, Sangre Grande, Toco, Chaguanas, San Fernando , Gasparillo, Princes Town , Point Fortin, Siparia, Rio Claro and Mayaro.

GUYANA NEWS

Death penalty for pirates

Guyana's parliament has passed a Hijacking and Piracy Bill which lays down heavy penalties penalties for piracy, including the death penalty,stiff fines and life imprisonment. The law came in response to waves of piracy that have beset fishermen all along the coast for the last year. The bill seeks to make special provisions for punishment for offences of armed robbery, hijacking and piracy committed in rivers, internal waters and territorial sea of Guyana and the high seas. Clement Rohee Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee said that it was timely, necessary, and he believed, is awaited with great anticipation by the fishing community.

Minister Clement Rohee

The bill sets out provisions for the punishment of criminal acts committed in Guyana’s waters such as the death penalty to a person who murders another person on board a vessel under attack while committing armed robbery, piracy or hijacking. It deals with the punishment of accessories and provides for the forfeiture of buildings owned and used by an accused, any vessel, machinery and accessories and weapons used or during a pirate attack.

Accounting errors have Georgetown town clerk and treasurer on the hot seat

Georgetown send Town Clerk Beulah Williams and City Treasurer Roderick Edinboro have been sent on immediate leave so that investigations could be carried out in the treasurer’s department. The Mayor and City Council recently approved a motion to set up an investigative team that would if necessary identify replacements for the two officials. The moves comes after a scathing report by the Auditor General, which showed that ecords are not being properly maintained for wages and salaries, officers being given payment in lieu of leave without proper authority or approval; advances , loans to officers; deduction of officers’ deposits, bank reconciliation statements and other important accounting tasks. The AG found that during 2007 a number of officers were promoted or given raises in salaries without the following proper protocol being followed. Mayor Hamilton Green, in a short statement, said officers have openly “flouted the decisions of the council” and have exercised their “Caesar-like power to do what they like when they feel like it.”

Magistrate shoots cop

Mark George, the policeman who was shot on Woolford Avenue last Thursday was transferred to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and is resting comfortably, a release from the Georgetown Hospital said. Reports are that George, a Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank and Festival City resident is fully conscious and is talking. Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys was questioned in relation to the shooting and was placed on station bail. This newspaper was told yesterday that the file is now in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who will advise on the way forward. Following the June 26 shooting which occurred on Woolford Avenue, Gilhuys proceeded on voluntary leave and all of his cases have been adjourned to new dates. The shooting occurred outside Stella Maris Nursery around 11 pm and reports had indicated that ranks of a mobile patrol unit noticed a heavily tinted vehicle parked on the roadway and decided to carry out checks. It was then that ranks discovered that it was Gilhuys who was in the vehicle and after a verbal exchange the magistrate allegedly discharged his firearm injuring George who managed to run a few feet before collapsing in the drain outside the St Joseph High School. Gilhuys has since denied that he fired first. Following the shooting, the magistrate went to the Brickdam Police Station where he refused to hand over his weapon but left his bullet-riddled Rav 4 parked in the compound. He returned the following day in the company of his lawyer Nigel Hughes and was later released on station bail. George who sustained damage to some of his vital organs underwent an emergency operation shortly after arriving at the hospital. He was admitted a patient of the Intensive Care Unit where he was hooked up to a life support machine.

Cop escapes death from gunmen

Region 5 students excel in Grade 6 assessment

Indo-Caribbean Times

A 25-year-old policeman escaped death, when one of two attackers opened fire on him seconds after ordering him out of his car which was parked on the Square of Revolution. Troy Canterbury, a Timehri resident based at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary sustained a gunshot wound to the right knee. The bullet which was lodged was subsequently removed at the Georgetown Hospital before the rank was discharged. Police said that about 11:05 pm Constable Canterbury was in a parked motor vehicle at Vlissengen Road, George-town, when he was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, and who held him up and demanded his valuables. Canterbury resisted, the release said, and was shot in his right knee by the man with the firearm.

The successful students pose with their teachers (from left to right), Constance McCalmon, Stacy Williamson and Padmini Bissoon. The students (seated from left to right) are Chandanie Panday, Yasmin Shariff, Kennia Maynard and Adrian Budhu. Those standing from left are Cecelee Naraine, Debra Tulsi, Sukraj Beephat and Andrea Persaud.

The student from the Lachmansingh Primary School in West Berbice who was among the top performers in the country at this year’s Grade Six Assessment says her achievement was due to dedication and hard work. Eleven-year-old Chandanie `Pretha’ Panday who gained 537 marks was awarded a place at Queen’s College and is looking forward to attending her new school in September. Asked if she was expecting to do so well, she responded, “Not really because I did not write the Grades Two and Four assessments. I only came into the country one year ago and most of my time was taken up with social studies.” The child who is also the top student for her school and for Region Five is grateful to God for guiding her through her work as well as her mother and her teachers; especially Constance McCalmon. She is also thankful for the encouragement she got from the vendors at the school, her family and friends. Chandanie aspires to follow in the footstep of her father, Dr. Parva Panday and become a medical doctor. She told Stabroek News, “Now that the exams are over and I got good marks I feel very excited and relieved. At least some of the pressure has been taken off so now I can have time to relax and be involved in social activities.”

JULY 2008

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The girl who said she stayed up a few hours every night to study enjoys reading fiction and science books or “anything interesting. Placing second for the school with 522 marks, Yasmin Shariff told SN that she was disappointed with her marks. She said too that she “studied very hard and was expecting to do much better but I am still thankful for what I got.” She is also “feeling very proud for placing second in the school and for being among the top in the region. I am looking forward to furthering my education at President’s College.” Yasmin who wants to become a pharmacy technician, thanks God for her success. She is also grateful to her teachers, mother, older sister and friends who assisted her. During her spare time she relaxes by reading or watching television. Petite Kennia Maynard placed third with 517 marks and was followed closely by Adrian Budhu with 516 marks and Cecelee Naraine with 515 marks. The three have been awarded places at St. Roses High School but have opted to attend President’s College instead as they have nowhere to stay in Georgetown. They enjoy reading and watching educational programmes on television. Maynard and Naraine, two budding pediatricians and Budhu who aspires to become an engineer said they studied hard for the exams and felt they could have done better. Along with three other students, Debra Tulsi and Sukraj Beephat who gained 504 marks and Andrea Persaud who attained 502 marks they thanked God for their success. They also expressed gratitude to their Grade Six teachers – Miss McCalmon, Sir Rajpaul Singh, Miss Stacy Williamson and Miss Padmini Bissoon, relatives and friends. McCalmon told this newspaper that she expected the result to be better but she is still grateful that the children maintained the standard that the school is accustomed to. She said that during the time that the students were preparing for the exams she had been serving as the acting headmistress “so all my focus was not on the children.” She nevertheless praised the parents for contributing to the children’s success and for the interest shown.

Bandit killed after brazen Brickdam robbery

Police cornered and shot dead a gunman on Brickdam, minutes after he had robbed a city businessman with the aid of an accomplice. It appears that the two had no clear plan after executing the robbery in John Street. They were apparently contemplating their next move when a police mobile patrol got word of the brazen midday attack and moved in quickly. Police place the dead man (left) into the vehicle while the other suspect is flat in the grass (centre). Since they were on a bicycle, the two did not get far. Police caught up with them at the corner of Brickdam and Chalmers Place, Stabroek where one of them was shot dead. Up to press tim, the dead gunman was unidentified. However, a few persons who saw him at the Georgetown Public Hospital called him `Black boy’. He was shot twice; once to the lower back and once in his right

leg, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Police said the man was shot dead during an armed confrontation after he opened fire on the patrol that was in hot pursuit. However, persons who said they were eyewitnesses rejected this version. In a press release police said an unlicensed 9 mm Beretta pistol along with three live rounds and a spent shell were recovered. They said the two men had entered the Royal Refrigeration building at John Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, and held the owner George Ramsarran at gunpoint. The men tied him up with duct tape and took away some $95,000, a wristwatch and a gold band. The other suspect surrendered after realizing there was no way out. Police said he had been identified by the robbery victim as one of the two men who had robbed him of $94,600 along with a wristwatch. The cash and the watch were recovered.

Guyana records first kidney transplant GUYANA NEWS

Guyanese can now look forward to having kidney transplants at home, after the first transplant surgery was successfully completed on Munesh Mangal at the Georgetown Public Hospital for the next few days as doctors monitor his condition. The 18 year old Mangal is reportedly doing well after the operation inserted a kidney donated by his mother. Just a few years ago, Mangal's health had severely deteriorated after he was diagnosed with renal failure. Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy called the surgery “new hope for Mangal and a bright promise for all of Guyana”, adding that someday in the not-too-distant future, the country will offer kidney transplant as a routine medical service. The overseas medical team included the Indian-born Dr Jindal of Brookdale University Hospital; Dr Edward Falta, Transplant Surgeon of the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre (WRAMC), Washington; Dr Melenie Guerero, Pulmonary Care Physician; Laura Owens Transplant Coordinator, and Dr Arthur L. Womble attached to the Athens-Limestone Hospital, Athens, Alabama. The local team included Dr Ravi Purohit, Surgeon; Dr Ramsundar Doobay, Consultant, Internal Medicine; Dr Anita Florendo, Registrar, Internal Medicine; Dr Vivienne Amata, Anaesthesiologist; Dr Pheona Mohamed-Rambaran, Laboratory Director; Delon France, Medical Technologist, and Dr Wilson, Radiologist.

Indo-Caribbean Times

Critchlow Labour College crippled

The withdrawal of the government subvention has left the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) without 90% ot is staff, leaving the organization struggling to remain open. Administrators are planning protest action, which will include picketing in front of the Office of the President and the Ministry of Education, to address the withdrawn government subvention. The Trades Union Congress CLC has not received its budgeted subvention since August last year. Though it was approved by the National Assembly, government did not release the funding and its initial explanation was that the college has not submitted its audited accounts. After this was addressed, government said the subvention would not be paid as there was a split in the labour movement. Vice President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Patrick Singh said the union was demanding the release of the subvention for this year. He noted that the CLC had, over the years, provided a second chance at a formal education for many young people. Any reasonable administration would appreciate this and act sensibly to nurture the nation's youths along those lines, he said. Instead,institutions such as the Guyana National Service have been abandoned, while the prison system is being extended, he said.

Berbice River Bridge to be completed after Lindo Creek CARIFESTA mine owner President Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed fears for his life regret that the Berbice River Bridge will not

be completed in time for CARIFIESTA activities slated for Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) during the period August 22-31. The bridge is now expected to open in September or October. The 1.55 kilometre bridge is being constructed with financial commitment totalling some US$38M from several investors, including commercial banks, major insurance companies and several corporate agencies. When completed, the bridge will be operated by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. on a toll basis, using a formula aimed at recovering sufficient revenue to cover operating and maintenance costs, return investments and repayment of financing. Meanwhile, construction of access roads on either sides of the bridge is ongoing to establish 3.1 kilometres of roadway on the eastern side of the bridge and 700 metres on the western bank of the Berbice River. The bridge which will link Regions Five and Six is expected to enhance trade, improve transportation access and boost tourism. E

Leonard Arokium the owner of the Lindo Creek mining camp where eight miners including his son and brother were killed about a month ago, believes that his life is in imminent danger in the wake of checks on his movements by a group of men unknown to him.

Export zone planned for Berbice Bridge area

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds says that government is looking towards the establishment of an export processing zone close to the Berbice River Bridge as well as oil refineries and assembly plants, besides other major projects. Twenty-three spans have been successfully installed, 17 of which are located at the western end and six on the eastern bank of the river. The bridge can support a weight capacity of 60 tons. The structure will span some 1.55 kilometres and will rest atop 39 pontoons. Storage and assembly of the bridge is being done at the BBCI headquarters in the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary (MMA) compound at Rosignol. According to the Prime Minister, the bridge which has a longevity of about 50 years will be the stepping stone for greater commerce between Regions Five and Six and will significantly reduce the burdensome Rosignol to New Amsterdam ferry crossing. The Berbice Bridge is closer to the Atlantic Ocean than the Demerara Harbour Bridge but is narrower in width and makes no provision for foot crossing. Its initial toll operation will be controlled by the BBCI for a period of 21 years before it is handed over to the government, GINA added.

JULY 2008

Paedophiles could face police supervision for life

Six bills were tabled in Parliament yesterday including one which seeks police supervision of paedophiles for the rest of their lives to prevent repeat crimes.

The Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill 2008, which will allow the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to approach the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice and a Pre-vention of Crimes (Amend-ment) Bill to have certain convicted persons placed under police supervision were among the six read for the first time. The bills and an amendment to the regulations made under the Excise Tax Act 2005 are expected to be debated ahead of the two-month recess, which will run from August to October. The Prevention of Crimes (Amendment) Bill seeks to give police the authority to supervise any person convicted on indictment of a crime, in addition to the punishment handed down. Paedophiles would be subjected to police supervision for life, as well as persons involved in molestation, rape, sexual exploitation, pornography, prostitution, incest and kidnapping. In the case of armed robbery, domestic violence, hijacking, offences involving the use of firearm or explosives, and piracy, police supervision would be for three years.

Repairs to all makes and models

A letter was dispatched yesterday to Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, signed by a representative on behalf of Arokium’s attorney Nigel Hughes who is currently overseas, advising him of Arokium’s fears. Hughes said he had been instructed that a group of six men have been making various inquiries in his client’s immediate neighbourhood about the location of his home, his movements and the persons who reside with him.

The letter further said that Arokium had been advised to make a report to the police station “But we fear that this is a real and present danger which requires your most urgent personal intervention.” Further, it said that the Arokium family has already suffered untold pain at their most recent loss and to compound their tragedy with the possibility of the loss of another family would be heinous.

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4 cylinder vehicles

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BUSINESS

Caribbean business group award

Indo-Caribbean Times IMMIGRATION FORUM

US dollar mighty no more

The once almighty US dollar is failing fast, and now stands in danger of being replaced by the Euro as the world's reserve currency. It has been declining steadily for six years against other major currencies, undercutting its role as the leading international banking currency. Now Europeans and Canadians are finding bargains in the US while travelling Americans find their dollar buys less abroad. The dollar has lost roughly a quarter of its purchasing power against the currencies of major U.S. trading partners from its peak in 2002. Since oil is bought and sold in dollars worldwide, the devalued dollar has made the recent surge in energy prices even worse for Americans, leading to $4 gasoline in the United States (all figures U.S.). Analysts suggest that of the $140 a barrel that oil fetches globally, some $25 may be due to the devalued dollar. The loss of the dollar's purchasing power and international respect has some experts worrying that the euro might one day replace the dollar as the so-called primary reserve currency. And that could trigger a dollar rout as foreign governments and international investors flee from U.S. Treasury bonds and other dollar-denominated investments. America has not bought US dollars on foreign exchange markets to stop the slide in dollar value. The Federal Reserve could prop up the dollar by increasing interest rates under its control, which would make dollar investments more attractive to foreigners. But that could cause problems in a weak U.S. economy rocked by soaring fuel costs, falling home prices and rising unemployment – and the lowest reading of consumer confidence in 16 years. The dollar has fallen so far, it will be difficult to halt or reverse its slide. "There's no magic wand," said White House press secretary Dana Perino. "It's not going to be a problem that we solve overnight."

House prices will rise slowly in ‘08

The strong housing market of the last few years has now cooled down as supply and demand have come more into balance, but prices will still rise this year, though not by double digit figures of the past, says CEO Phil Soper of Royal LePage Real Estate Services. Through the rest of this year and into next, he said, Royal LePage's second-quarter statistics released Thursday suggest that average prices will creep up by about 3.5 per cent. "When you're looking at the real estate market, it's important to look at not just house price changes, but also the changes in activity levels," he said. "There are significantly fewer homes trading hands now than there have been in the boom years of this decade," he said. "It's a moderate market." Royal LePage's report followed one from the Canadian Real Estate Association on Tuesday indicating that average house prices in June fell 0.4 per cent compared with a year ago for the first time since early 1999. CREA's figures suggested that house prices were "basically flat" in June, said Soper, adding they were somewhat skewed by the fact that the association was unable to include Montreal in their results due to a reporting foul up. While prices are forecast to move higher, the country's largest real estate company predicts the number of transactions this year will fall by 11.5 per cent to 461,000 units. Along with an easing of pent-up demand, it also attributed the slowdown to jitters among prospective buyers because of economic uncertainty following layoffs in the manufacturing and forestry sectors due to the subprime mortgage fiasco in the United States and worldwide credit crunch. Avery Shenfeld, senior economist at CIBC World Markets, said earlier this week that there has been a noticeable softening of the housing market over the past few months. "Some of that is coming in cities where prices had gone through the roof in the previous one or two years," he said.

Page 10

Attack on Immigration Consultant Home Affairs Minister name was men-

I

At the June meeting of the JamoonTree CCBN (Canadian Caribbean Business Network) keynote speaker the Hon. Roy Cullen, Federa,l MP for Etobicoke North, prestened an award to the Club fo their role in promoting growth in the Caribbean business community. In pic Rudy Lochan receives the award on behalf of the club. For more info on JamoonTree call 416 214 0228 or visit www.jamoontree.com.

JULY 2008

By Balwant Persaud

n this issue of Indo- Caribbean Times, I will depart from the usual immigration discussions and focused on a recent incident that can affect claimants claiming refugee status in Canada. This incident was reported by both the Stabroek News and The Kaieteur News on Friday July 4th 2008. Three heavily armed gunmen invaded the office of Balwant Persaud, Immigration Consultant in Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday July 3, 2008. The gunmen gagged and tied up the Consultant and his secretary. Guns were pointed to their heads demanding where the cash was and if there was any firearm. The whole office was ransacked and the following was stolen: A laptop computer with all the consultant clients files, memory sticks with client files backed up, paper files, a DVD Player, a cell phone and a digital camera. In a brief case there was G$1.3 million being clients money to be deposited was also stolen. Whilst the bandits were ransacking the office they kept probing the consultant, “ Big man, you know this is a setup? Big man what problem you have with Rohee and Prittipaul Singh?” Although gagged, I kept on answering that I do not know these fellows but they kept probing me for an answer. They kept talking whilst ransacking saying words such as, “ big man, don’t mess with Government people”, “ you get setup”, “ don’t talk , we will not harm you”, “ we only come to get documents” etc. Now these three armed gunmen did not even harm or harass me or my secretary, they just stole all the files and the laptop computer and the cash. When they were leaving I managed to ask them for my passport and pouch with my credit cards, they opened my brief case and placed my passport and credit card pouch under my head. I was bound, gagged and was lying on the floor. Although gagged, I could still speak a bit. What was strange with this incident was that a Minister of the Government, the

No housing bubble, says Flaherty

The Canadian government changed the rules for government-backed mortgages last week to avoid a U.S.-style housing market decline, even though the domestic market remains solid, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Wednesday. Officials were concerned about a recent trend towards long mortgage amortization periods and low down payments, which prompted the rule changes, Flaherty said in a Calgary speech. "They are modest changes but we do want to encourage Canadians to build up equity in their homes," he said, adding that the government wanted to avoid "anything" like the U.S. housing-sector crisis. Flaherty stressed that the government was not worried about excesses building up in the domestic housing market.

tioned in this robbery and the police, the TV stations and newspapers never interviewed the Minister or tried to obtain a comment from him. The police did not interrogate the Minister or the businessman although their names were called in a robbery. Why do the bandits want to remove all my paper files, newspaper clippings etc?. Since when are bandits interested in newspaper clippings? Those newspaper clippings were related to an upcoming refugee case of a fifteen year old girl who was raped by high society big wigs in Guyana. So it was clear that the motive of the robbery was to remove all files and documents from my office so that I cannot proceed with my work especially the upcoming refugee case. Last October, the Minister of Home Affairs , Mr. Clement Rohee and this Immigration Consultant had a few exchanges in the Guyana press about a Refugee case the Consultant won. The Minister was saying that the Canadian Embassy in Guyana should check with the Guyana Government first before refugee status are granted to Guyanese because most of the cases are bogus. Balwant Persaud, the Consultant, objected to the Minister, saying that the Immigration and Refugee Board is independent of all Government interferences. As usual, the Police came and took statements, finger prints etc and never came back. I contacted the police, informing them that someone was using my computer and accessing the Internet with it and we can trace where the computer was being used with the dial up phone number and IP address. My Internet Service Provider provided me with the times the bandits access the Internet. The police just said they will investigate and get back to me. One week passed and nothing. This will remain an unsolved crime, similar to the thousands of unsolved crime in Guyana. Are you still wondering why people want to leave Guyana by any means necessary?

Balwant Persaud is a Certified Immigration Consultant and a Member of The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. For answers to your immigration problems, send all enquiries to [email protected] or call at 416-431-8845 and in Guyana: 225-1540 www.canadaimmigrationbpa.com

"There is no bubble in the Canadian housing sector, that has not been our concern," he told reporters after the speech. "Our concern has been a tendency for longer amortization period of 40 years and purchasers putting very little money down." The changes, due to take effect in October, include ending government-backed mortgages with 40-year amortization periods, and a new requirement that buyers have a minimum down payment of 5 percent. Various financial institutions have already said they will comply with the new thrust, either immediately or in October. Genworth Financial Canada, a unit of U.S. life and mortgage insurer Genworth Financial Inc , and TD Canada Trust, the domestic banking unit of Toronto-Dominion Bank , both said on Wednesday that they will change their mortgage products to match Ottawa's adjustments.

Indo-Caribbean Times

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India’s $2,500 Nano car set to revolutionise auto industry JULY 2008

Indo-Caribbean Times

Rising gas prices in Canada have caused General Motors to close down or cut back on vehicle assembly plants, while Ford and Chrysler are seeing buyers shy away from their expensive gas guzzlers. Even the Japanese and Koreans are worried. RV units are lying idle in yards all over Canada at a time when they are normally rolling all over North America. Buyers are moving in droves towards smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles as gas prices head for the predicted $1.50 per liter this summer. Drivers can’t afford to fill up the tanks on their minivans, SUV’s and CRV’s and are thinking small and economical. But the cheapest cars in Canada, the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio, are still costing $9,995 before taxes, and the average price for a new car is up around $20,000. A full scale transport tsunami underway, as some analysts have predicted $2.00 a liter by next year. The picture is completely different on the other side of the world in India, where Tata Motors is getting ready for the October launch of the world’s cheapest car, the $2,500 US Nano. The Indians can’t wait to get their hands on the first batch of 250,000 Nanos, as they already know this

car signals a revolution in cheap, personal transportation. It’s not just the 1 lakh of rupees (100,000) price tag for the Nano that is causing the excitement, though that is half the price for Suzuki’s Maruti 800, the current cheapest in India. The Nano promises to deliver 54 miles per gallon or 21.9 kilometres per litre, something no car in India or anywhere else can match. About 800 million Indians whose annual income runs from $3,000 to $11,000 US a year can afford to buy the Nano. So can a few hundred million others in China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America who are the main targets picked out by Tata Motors. We in Canada are not likely to see the Nano anytime soon, but we will feel its effect immediately. Anybody who can snatch away about four billion potential car users away from the American Big Three, the Japanese, Koreans and the Europeans will change the world automobile market beyond recognition. The fact that the Indians have done it points to their growing influence in world economics. Although not a single Nano is on the road in India, it has already delivered a knockdown to Suzuki, the leading small Natural Ingredients No preservatives

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car manufacturer. This year sales of Suzuki’s Maruti have dropped 20% for new cars, and 30% percent for used cars. Indians are waiting for the Nano at half the price. Taxi drivers are all excited too, as the Nano will make huge changes in the taxi industry, and probably knock out the motorized rickshaw for good. Even upper income Indians are looking on the Nano as a usable second car to run around the cities and towns. Motorcycle sales are likely to slump as tens of millions of motorcycle owners in India look to trade up to four wheels and the prestige of owning a car. By North American standards the Nano is hardly attractive. It’s a small, light car coming in at 1,322 lbs, with a 32 horsepower two stroke engine that can deliver a maximum of 65 miles per hour, with only a manual gearbox, no airconditioning, a tiny trunk and just one windscreen wiper. But it’s a real car, with four doors, fabulous gas mileage, and low emissions, that the average Indian can buy with just a few months’ salary. It can take a whole family. And it looks stylish too. It’s not aimed at North Americans or Europeans at all. Tata appears to have an iron grip on

*

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Page 12

the People’s Car for the 21st century, its version of the Ford Model T or Volkswagen that revolutionized car transport in their times. Since the announcement of the Nano in January, world automakers have been scrambling to match it, but none of them have anything in sight that can compete. In India Hyundai, Honda, Renault, Volkswagen and Ford have announced plans to compete with the world’s cheapest car, but their models are all priced at 400,000 rupees or more, four times the Nano’s price. Renault plans to put out a Bajel car that will match the $2,500 price tag of the Nano, but they have no prototype in hand. Meanwhile, the Chinese who terrified the North American market three years ago with announcements of 250,000 imports of their Chery vehicle selling under $10,000 have yet to deliver. European carmakers like Fiat and Renault with a reputation for making small cars, are not jumping in. Nobody seems able to build a decent motor car for $2,500 to compete with the Nano for lower entry car sales in the gigantic market of the developing world. Nano means high tech and small, and cheap and for now, India’s Tata Motors has all the marbles.

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Canada Day Satsangh & Hawan at the Scarborough Bluffs

Activities at the Canada Satsangh & Hawan included singing the anthem (above), Ramnanan Gopeesingh conducting the Hawan (left) and offerings to Lord Hanuman.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

D’EDWARD VILLAGE DAY IS on Saturday, July 19, 2008 in Glen Forest Secondary School Park, 3375 Fieldgate Drive, Mississauga, (between Bloor St and Burnhamthorpe Rd). The following activities are planned for the day (1) Picnic (2) Short-four cricket championship (3) Kite competition (4) Dominoes in the park Lots & Lots of trophies & prizes to be awarded. You are required to PRE-REGISTER FOR THESE FUN EVENTS. The short-four cricket competition will start at 1:00 pm and in-between breaks, the kite competition will be held. You can therefore register for more than one event. Contact Fred Lall (Budhoo Lall) [email protected] 905-794-5423 or www.dedwardvillage

THE TARIC ISLAMIC CENTRE in its continued effort of putting on various events for the Muslim community, is seeking volunteers who can assist with various projects and events. If you are interested in volunteering some of your time in the path of Islam, please reply to this email with the following infomation: Name: City where you live: Telephone Number: Cell Number: and reply to [email protected]. The general public is invited to celebrate with us.

Indo-Caribbean Times

Hwy. 404 north to Davis Drive. East (right) on Davis Drive. Turn (left) onto Hwy. 48 and follow it until you come to Hwy. 12. Turn north (left) onto Hwy. 12. Continue on Hwy. 12. After 2km turn east (right) into Thorah 3rd Line, opposite the Radio Tower. Follow road for 2 km over the Beaver River bridge. Immediately after the bridge turn left into the driveway of Novalis.

JULY 2008

Page 15

Jagdeo visits the Guyana Festival

Sunday, July 20th at Santan Mandir Temple, 10.30am-11.30am in Gujrati. 9333 Woodbine Avenue, Gormley L0H 1G0 approx 30 km north of Scarborough

Sunday, 20th July 5pm - in English/ Hindi at Vedic Cultural Centre Centre( Arya Samaj Mandir) 4345 - 14th Avenue, Markham ON L3R 0J2

Sunday July 20 at 7.30 pm at home of D.D. Divineah, ont 65 Gordon Road, Toronto Gordon Road is two blocks north of York Mills between Yonge and Bayview. For more info contact Ram at 416-2899088 or [email protected].

L-R Consul General Danny Doobay, President Bharrat Jagdeo, ACG's Vice-President Mani Singh and High Commissioner to Canada Rajnarine Singh - on the lawn of Lamoroux Community Centre, Scarborough

ANNUAL BATH SETTLEMENT REUNION AND PICNIC ON JULY 19, AT ROUND TREE MILLS PARK; CONTACT A.T. SUBRYAN AT 905 457 6131 OR [email protected] for further details.

SUNGAZING TEACHER HIRA RATAN MANEK will be giving four free lectures in Southern Ontario during this part of his North American lecture tour.

Saturday, 19th July: 1pm-2pm Lecture at Vedic Arogya Mandir, Beaverton 705-4264530 Directions from Toronto to Vedic Arogyna Mandir (90 min north of Toronto):

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Indo-Caribbean Times

Pakaraima writers meet President “Sweet Sweet Karaila” Carifiesta Gala

JULY 2008

Page 16

A grand two-night gala performance of “Sweet, Sweet Karaila” stage play will spearhead the first in a series of Carifesta fundraisers being held in Toronto. The two shows will be held on Wednesday, July 30 and Thursday, July 31 at 8 p.m. in the Burgundy Room, North York Memorial Community Hall, 5110 Yonge Street, Toronto. Roots International Arts Theatre Inc. (www.rootstheatre.com) premiered its Carifesta X presentation “Sweet, Sweet Karaila” on July 17 and it runs until July 25 at Palmerston Library Theatre, 560 Palmerston Avenue, Toronto. The director is Ryan Singh.

Guyana Festival 2008 celebrated the 42nd Anniversary of Guyana's Independence and the Pakaraima Writers Association was proudly represented by its members, with special presence of the President of Guyana His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo at their booth, showcasing their members' locally published books.

“Sweet, Sweet Karaila” is a gripping tragiccomedy two Guyanese families – the “Herod’s” from Buxton and the “Samaroo’s” from Lusignan, as told by village elder and raconteur “Uncle John John”. Written and produced by Leon Saul, based on the 1958 prize-winning Guyanese radio play – “Sweet Karaila” by Vic Forsythe, the story reveals how Det. Sergeant Liverpool Fennimore – a police officer from Buxton, who has just been married to Rhoda Herod, is tested before and after his marriage by the recent massacres in Guyana. “Sweet, Sweet Karaila” is a bitter-sweet tale of patriotism and the sacrifice of a loved one while doing duty to protect the family, community and nation. The consulting directors of the full-length play are Marvin Ishmael and Andre Wiltshire. The production features Trevor Murray, Eli Goree, Ras Leon, Jem Hewitt, Nikki Green, T.J. McLaughlin, Sandra Maharaj, Mandela Mannings, Samantha Mohabir, Sam Khera, Brad Jordan, Wendy Belcourt, Paul Chanderbhan, Patrick Augustus and Rosina Noel. The live soundtrack is by Ras D’Jango. Tickets are $40. Call 416-333-2724 or 416275-8993, or email [email protected] to book tickets.

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RELIGION

Canadian Guyanese help to build West Berbice’s Vedanta Academy By Ramnarine Sahadeo

Members of the Canadian Chapter of Bush Lot Sanatan Dharma Vishnu Mandir West Coast Berbice are hoping that all current and former residents of West Berbice, both inside and outside Guyana, will contribute to the building and operation of the Vedanta Academy now being constructed on the premises to the Bush Lot Mandir. Once completed this building will be used to educate Students from the entire County. The vision is to have it patterned after the successful Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) located at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and headed by Swami Aksharananda. Berbice holds a special place in the history of Guyana. It was in this County, (not Demerara,) that Indentured Servants from India first landed on May 5, 1838, 112 days after the Whitby left Calcutta on January 13, 1838 with 246 Indians, the majority of whom were Hindu males. Descendants of these survivors are now all over the globe, and have enjoyed enough economic prosperity that if they can perceive the need for a Hindu Secondary School or even a College they have enough resources to make it happen very quickly. Money, materials and even manpower can be marshaled to ensure that the values brought to the West can be handed down to posterity. This is only one way of honoring those who helped to make the County what it is today. While we have cause to celebrate our survival and our successes annually on May 5 it must be admitted that over the years we have lost some of the very values that defined us as Indians. We gradually lost the language of our fore parents and we were products of an educational process that emphasized Western values. Now that we appreciate the significance of the culture of our ancestors, it is time that we establish institutions that can instill in students pride in their history and culture while preparing them for the hurdles they will face them in any society in which they chose to live. It is not national boundaries that would unite them but their values One of the reasons for the establishment of the Vedanta Academy is to correct this historical imbalance so that those interested in learning the tenets of Vedanta can do so in a classroom setting. Vedanta is Vedic Philosophy and holds that man is essentially divine in nature, that God exists in everything and that there are many different ways to reach the same goal. It thus teaches respect for all religions and this principle cannot be overemphasized in any multicultural society. Some of us who grew up in small villages were exposed to many religions and this helped us to live harmoniously with our neighbours What is sad today however, is that too many, including Hindus, still do not know anything about Vedic Philosophy and that is only one reason why more Hindu Learning Centres are necessary, and why we have to get a copy of the Bhagavat Gita and Ramayan in each home. Whatever the function or level of success of the numerous temples that dot the landscape, there still exists a vacuum of knowledge that must be filled by other means. One view that has been gaining momentum is that it is preferable to invest resources in

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a building that can be open 7 days a week, for cultural training in Hindi, Music, dancing, Sanskrit, philosophy along with the required academic subjects. It can also be attached to a place of worship. Several who have recently visited SVN describes it is a unique environment that imprints a special feeling, which allows us to connect with the past, while preparing the students with a well-rounded development that should enable them to survive and flourish in any society. Religious knowledge is an essential part of the process. The children must be in the mandir saying prayers at 8.00 daily before they enter their respective classrooms. They also leave the compound after returning to the mandir for closing prayers at 4.00 pm. Support for the Bush Lot Vedanta Academy has to be expanded if the operational date of September 2008 is to be realized. Since there is no similar institution in West Berbice it will serve the needs of students from other districts in the same way as Saraswati Vidya Niketan. There is already some recognition of this fact. Funds were raised at a Yagna recently held at the temple; neighboring D’Edward village contributed the proceeds of a concert; others are donating their labour, and the project GITA FOR EACH HOME seemed to have found a solid base as thousands have been funded by Bath Settlement native, Trevor Subryan The executive is hoping to use the Academy as a distribution center for Gitas and are seeking individuals or groups who can continue to supply them with copies of the immortal text. The indefatigable Swami Aksharananda travels regularly to Bush Lot where he conducts gita classes already producing students who have excelled and achieved national recognition. Hopefully Berbicians, no matter in which continent they reside can be informed of this project by friends and relatives so that they can get an opportunity to contribute to the development of the cultural values that were once shared by all in the community. Many are still not aware of the new building or what they can do to help.. Those who visit Guyana are encouraged to spend some time with the children and lend a hand to the executive members who are doing a tremendous work under difficult circumstances. The Canadian Chapter has had an initial fundraising dinner and has sent $ 1 million (G) as work on the building is ongoing. A second dinner is planned for the evening of July 26, 2008 at Nice “N” Easy Restaurant 115 Oakdale Road. Unit 403, tel. 416 742 7240 Those unable to attend can always send cheques payable to: BUSH LOT SANATAN DHARMA SABHA VISHNU MANDIR and mail to 6 Marlebon Road, Etobicoke, Ont. M9V 3V9 Call Ram 416 292 5650; Roy 905 487 0940; Dave 416 663 4037; Manoj 416 771 2487 For further details on this and other educational projects and how to contribute visit www. bushlotmandir.com For suggestions or information on how to get a GITA or RAMAYAN in EACH HOME email [email protected]

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Ahmadiya open our largest mosque

Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the unveiling of Canada’s largest mosque complex in Calgary recently. The spectacular 48,000-square-foot Baitun Nur mosque was inaugurated by the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad. Prime Minister Harper said the mosque symbolized how the relatively small Canadian Ahmadiyya community, most of whom are recent immigrants from Central and South Asia, has prospered and flourished in Canada’s pluralistic society. “Ahmadis are renowned for their devotion to peace, universal brotherhood and submission to the

CIOG joins Canada NGO to empower rural women

The Central Islamic Organ-isation of Guyana (CIOG) has launched a funding programme for projects undertaken by women in rural areas with support from a Canadian NGO. In a press release the CIOG said it launched ˜Livelihood Development for Rural Women Project on at the Tuschen Old Road Masjid, East Bank Essequibo. It said the project is a joint venture with Human Concern International (HCI) which has already provided US$11,375 to the mission. The CIOG will contribute US$19,420 for the project. CIOG said the objective of the project is to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities and income for rural Guyanese women. Many of these women are marginalized so we are pleased to BHAGVAD GITA FOR EACH HOME Bulk distribution centres.

The Gita can be available in bulk at the following contacts: Donations are expected to fund further copies; any individual or organization wishing to assist in this project can contact us.

CANADA Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton Ramnarine Sahadeo 905 671 9233 e-mail [email protected], Omesh Sharma [email protected], Chandan Persaud at 416-754-2382, Gulcharan at 416 481-5777 [email protected], Ram Jagessar at 416 289 9088 or [email protected]

will of God – the core principles of true Islam,” said Prime Minister Harper. “They are also renowned for working together to serve the greater good through social, health and education initiatives, as well as mosque projects like this one. And wherever they live in the world, Ahmadis are renowned for participating in the larger community and peacefully co-existing with people of all faiths, languages and cultures.” The Prime Minister said “We especially applaud the Kalipha for denouncing those who pervert faith by claiming it as a justification for violence.”

partner with HCI in an effort to create employment, and build the entrepreneurial skills as well as the self confidence of the women the release said. CIOG will select 80 women entrepreneurs from the West Coast Demerara to build their capabilities by providing training and technical assistance in catering and sewing/knitting. These courses will be for a six-month duration. Projects like this onewill certainly change the lives of all those who will participate and benefit from the training, CIOG President Fazeel Ferouz said. He said too it will assist in the development of the person, community and our country as a whole. According to the release HCI is a Canadian, federally registered charitable organisation which aims to help alleviate human suffering by investing in humanity. Since 1980, HCI has contributed towards facilitating sustainable development through long-term development projects, and maintaining human dignity by providing immediate relief assistance to many poor and strife-torn countries and to local causes in Canada.

RICHMOND HILL Omo Persaud at [email protected] 905-886-1724 Winnipeg: Ajodhya Mahadeo 204-661-6643

British Columbia Chameli Seegobin 604-945-9510, e-mail address [email protected], and Naraine Mohabir at 604-274-8938

GUYANA: Saraswati Vidya Niketan ph. 2760013/14

It’s a recession in USA WORLD NEWS

Forget the technical definition that says you have a recession when the economy shrinks for six consecutive months. The United States has the look and feel of a country in recession as job losses, high gas prices, tumbling home values, tight credit and a stock market rout bite ordinary Americans. Another 62,000 jobs vanished in June – the sixth consecutive month of job losses, according to a U.S. Labour Department report. The world's largest economy, which by some measures is still growing, has now shed 438,000 jobs since the start of the year. “If there's no recession, someone forgot to tell the labour market,” Merrill Lynch economist David Rosenberg said in research note. The unemployment rate held steady at a four-year high of 5 per cent. And the job losses cut across just about every sector of the economy, from banking and retailing to manufacturing and construction. The only sectors to escape carnage were government, health care, education and leisure. Virtually everything that was once booming is now stalled. Americans are driving less and spending less as they cope with a combination of higher food and gas prices and diminished household wealth, brought on by falling stocks and tumbling home prices. Wall Street banks and brokers have been laying off staff by the thousands, victims of the mortgage meltdown. Hit particularly hard is the construction industry, which has shed nearly half a million jobs this year alone. The housing collapse, combined with an apparent downturn in commercial construction, has taken a heavy toll on the sector that powered the job market during the post-2001 expansion. “This is affecting every nook and cranny of American life,” agreed Mark Morial, president of the National Urban League, a New York-based organization devoted to encouraging African Americans to become more involved in the economy and society. The U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research – the official arbiter of recessions – looks for sustained declines in employment, personal income and business activity, lasting several months.And based on those measures, a U.S. recession may already be under way. “You only see job losses of this length and size when the economy is in recession,” remarked Gus Faucher, director of macroeconomics at Moody's Economy.com. “From a labour market perspective, it looks like a recession.”

Get connected or get out, says Russian leader Russia's new 42-year-old president warned yesterday that government officials who do not know how to use a computer could soon be out of a job.

"They either should learn or, as they say, goodbye," President Dmitry Medvedev said. "We don't hire people who can't read and write. Computer literacy today is the same."

Since taking office in May, Medvedev has made it his mission to modernize Russia and fight pervasive corruption.

If the government carried out more of its work online, he says, it would increase transparency and make corruption more difficult to hide. But Medvedev sees no real progress toward putting documents, government purchase orders or the results of Moscow-funded research online, despite years of talk about establishing an "electronic government." He blames the foot-dragging on poor computer skills.

"Civil servants who don't have elementary computer skills cannot work effectively," he said during a televised meeting with federal and regional officials in the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk. For the government's part, he said, it should help increase Internet access and possibly compensate students for their Internet use.

Medvedev makes a point of noting his use of the Internet. Before his election in March, he told Itogi magazine he even watches TV news online.

Internet use in Russia is among the lowest in Europe, with only 12 per cent of people age 15 or older online, according to a 2007 study by research company comScore. But Russia also has the fastest growing Internet population in Europe, the study showed.

Toxic electronic No bids for TTC junk pouring streetcars into Third World

The TTC has failed to attract a single qualified bidder for a historic $1.25-billion contract to replace its aging streetcar fleet.

In a surprise development, Bombardier, the company widely believed to have the contract in the bag, failed to comply with the technical standards set out in precise detail in a request for proposals (RFP) issued in January, the TTC announced yesterday. Bombardier was one of only two companies that bid on the order for 204 cars. The other, TRAM Power, of Merseyside, England, was considered commercially noncompliant.

By Craig Kielburger & Marc Kielburger

Have you ever wondered what became of your VHS player? How about that old computer with the black and green monitor, or your first cellphone that was the size of a loaf of bread?

With people constantly upgrading their computers, TVs and cellphones, electronic waste, or e-waste, has quickly become the fastest growing component of solid waste. Compounding the problem, e-waste is often extremely toxic.

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Despite international agreements that prohibit the import and export of hazardous waste, shipments of broken electronic devices continue to pour into the harbours of Kenya, India and China. The reason is strictly financial. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates it's up to 10 times cheaper to export e-waste than to dispose of it domestically.

Mercury, barium, lead and cadmium are just a few of the dangerous elements that can be found in discarded devices. Many more toxic materials are used in the salvaging process that recovers the gold, silver, copper and other valuable metals found in computers, cellphones and TVs. Acid baths and open fires are typical of the inefficient and dangerous methods used in the recovery of these precious metals. Toxic fumes and acid spillage contribute to an unsafe working environment. The hazardous elements accumulate in landfills and can leech into the groundwater, leaving it undrinkable. The Basel Convention, which the United States has yet to sign, is an international treaty that addresses e-waste. While it has helped to slow the transfer of toxic waste between nations, it lacks accountability.

The individual parties of the convention are left to police themselves. So while China, for example, has signed and ratified the convention, there is no international enforcement – and so the practice of importing e-waste continues unabated. Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP) in Bonn, Germany, is an initiative of several United Nations organizations. Despite their efforts to stop the flow of e-waste into developing nations, executive director Ruediger Kuehr can understand why China continues to accept shipments.

"China, like India and many other countries, is really hungry for resources, so they let e-waste into their country to support their production chain," he says. "They have many people making their living off of e-waste, so they cannot easily say, 'Let's stop all of these imports.' "

About 150,000 people are employed by the e-waste industry in Guiyu, China, and 25,000 more work in the scrapyards of New Delhi, India. The gold, silver, copper, aluminum and other metals salvaged become a vital resource for the manufacturing of new items. A typical wage for the arduous, dangerous work is $2 to $4 a day.

Consumer awareness on the issue of ewaste is still low, but on the rise. People have begun to demand "greener" technology, and companies are starting to listen.

In March 2008, Greenpeace released the seventh edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics, providing environmental impact rankings for the industry. Toshiba and Samsung were at the head of the class, improving their recycling programs and using alternative, non-toxic materials. According to the report, Microsoft, Phillips and Nintendo were at the bottom of the group. Craig and Marc Kielburger are children's rights activists and co-founded Free The Children, which is active in the developing world.

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Motorhomes are dying fast

Halfway through summer, Milton Heights Campground looks as pristine as Augusta National Golf Club on opening day. The grass is an untrampled jade. The spruce limbs are teeming with complaining birds. The camp store shelves are well stocked with barbeque briquettes and junk food. Ross Binnie and his partner Juanita Peterson sit in front of their parked Winnebago RV at Milton Heights Campground in Ontario. Mr. Binnie, a retired flight engineer, has been RVing for nearly half his life. Simon Hayter for The Globe and Mail Enlarge Image Ross Binnie and his partner Juanita Peterson sit in front of their parked Winnebago RV at Milton Heights Campground in Ontario. Mr. Binnie, a retired flight engineer, has been RVing for nearly half his life. About the only thing missing from this RV park is the RVs. “Usually we'd be full up this time of year,” says manager Jean Casarin, looking none too hurried as she smoked at a picnic table. “You wouldn't be able to see the grass for all the RVs.” Instead, she estimates that three-quarters of the spots sit vacant, waiting for rigs and lawn chairs. Ms. Casarin sits and waits too, for paying customers, many of them RV-piloting friends who make an annual habit of visiting her and her campground. “You can't really blame them,” she says. “When a $600 gas tank last year takes $1,200 to fill this year, it makes it tough.” For hundreds of thousands of Canadians, rumbling across the continent by motorhome is not just a vacation, but a lifestyle. They are children of a continentwide cruising culture that germinated during the highway-building frenzy of the fifties and sixties. Many use their mobile palaces as a primary residence, intent on embracing the freedom of the open road. But freedom isn't so free any more. Soaring gas and diesel prices haven't just scrubbed travel plans and left campgrounds empty, they've also threatened the quintessentially North American way of life on the road. “Fewer people will be living the dream,” says Ross Binnie, a grey-bearded full-timer who joins Ms. Casarin at the picnic table. “Especially those on the margins.” At 73, Mr. Binnie, a retired flight engineer, has been RVing for nearly half his life. After starting with a converted Sears delivery van, he's now on RV No. 8, a spiffy Winnebago Adventurer purchased two weeks ago. Mr. Binnie and his partner had intended to drive it to Duluth, Minn., this summer, but fuel prices stranded them at Milton Heights near Milton, Ont. “We worked it out,” he says, “and a return trip was going to cost $3,000. It just wasn't worth it. For two people on a fixed income, it really limits what you can do.” The story is the same across the country. At Blue Spruce RV Park & Campground in Prince George, the number of motorhomes pulling in is down by one-third from last year, according to manager Ted McAfee. “These guys who have to spend $800 or $900 to fill a tank, it's just killing them. They're staying at home.”

Ontario sets up conservation area as large as Guyana & TT CANADA AND US NEWS

Ontario has made the largest conservation commitment in Canadian history, setting aside 225,000 square kilometres (or half) of the Northern Boreal region for permanent protection from development. It's an area the the size of Guyana and Trinidad combined, or the whole of the United Kingdom. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said in making the announcement, "It is, in a word, immense. It's also unique and precious. It's home to the largest untouched forest in Canada and the third largest wetland in the world," McGuinty said. The commitment is a major step in the fight against climate change, advocates say. Most of the land is now untouched by development, but in future resource industries like mining and logging will be barred from the quarter million square kilometres. They will have to work with the government and local First Nations communities to create sustainable development plans for the remainder of the Boreal forests. Over the next 10 to 15 years, the province will work with scientists and communities to map out the specific lands that are the most valuable as carbon storehouses and for species protection and which lands have the greatest resources and should be developed. "We're going to strike the right balance between conservation and development," McGuinty said. In the interim, the government is relying on prospective developers' respect for the laws governing Crown and First Nations lands to protect the region's forests and wetlands. The government will introduce legislation in the fall to reform the outdated mining act so all future mine developments will need approval of local First Nations, which will get a share of the revenues. The Northern Boreal region covers 43 per cent of Ontario but few people call it home. About 24,000 people, mostly in native communities accessible only by air, live there. It is home to approximately 200 sensitive species of animals, including woodland caribou, wolverine and lake sturgeon, which have been driven from large parts of the more southern forest by logging and other development. The massive intact wilderness, one of few remaining on Earth, plays a vital role in helping species adapt to climate change. The forests also serve a vital role in creating oxygen for the world, and taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The largest forested area in the world, the Amazon basin, has often been compared to the lungs of the planet.

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Canada cracking down on visa marriages

More than 45,000 new immigrants enter the country each year as spouses of Canadian citizens. But an increased focus on marriages of convenience has sparked a government crackdown on bogus nuptials. In May, it was reported the Conservative government was deploying five-person teams abroad - nicknamed the "fraud squad" - to investigate how fake couples were scamming the immigration system. Most recently, the immigration department circulated a letter to the Canadian Bar Association asking for input on changes to rules on overseas marriages. The association will issue its response this week, but sources say it's not expected to be favourable. The changes are "basic," according to the government, but immigration lawyers worry they will exclude even more genuine couples like the Hamons. "As a lawyer I see lots of refusals that are ill-founded," says the couple's former counsel, immigration lawyer David Matas. "The problem isn't acceptances of invalid marriages, it's the refusals of valid ones." The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act currently states that a spouse can be denied entry to Canada if the union "is not genuine and was entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring any status or privilege under the act." "The policy change that's under consideration is to change the 'and' to an 'or', so that either of those criteria would be the basis for consideration as opposed to both of them," said Karen Shadd, a spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. So what's the big deal? Matas says this simple word change is more significant than it appears. Immigration officials would be able to subjectively determine a marriage was not genuine, without having to also make a case on the motives for the union. For instance, a marriage based on dowry - not permanent residency - could be rejected. "The intent is to tighten things up . . . . The message is that it's going to be easier to refuse," said Matas. "The problem, as I see it, is when you make refusals easier you also make it easier to refuse the people that should get in." Discussion groups, blogs and websites on the issue show many immigration lawyers share Matas' fears that too many genuine couples will be turned down by visa officials if the change goes through. Immigration lawyer David Cohen says the criteria was problematic before the proposed changes, but this could open a "can of worms." "We are putting a lot of power in the hands of the first line immigration officer . . . subject to the biases that all humans have," he says. "You think in more evolved democracies you move away from things that can be abused and this has the potential to be

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abused." Some suggest adopting a more American approach would be the way to toughen the regulations without increasing the amount of refusals. In the U.S., newly arrived spouses are given "conditional resident" status for two years before they can apply for permanent residency. Canada grants the person permanent status upon arrival.

Canadians grab cheaper US cars

Canadians are rushing down to the United States in increasing numbers to buy cars which are noticeably cheaper than the same models at home. Sales of US cars to Canadians soared in the first six months of the year and is on pace to smash the record set in 2007, despite some moves by auto makers last year to adjust their prices to reflect the rise in the value of the Canadian dollar. Canadians imported 151,169 vehicles as of June 30, compared with 189,738 in all of 2007, according to data compiled by the North American Automobile Trade Association.Vehicle imports set a record in May at 31,458 – a 56-per-cent surge from year-earlier levels – and more than doubled in each of the first six months of the year from the same months in 2007. “Consumers in Canada have become acutely aware of the savings associated with U.S. imports and are now actively shopping for American vehicles,” the organization said in a statement. There are still differences in manufacturers' suggested retail prices. The DX version of the Honda Civic compact has an Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $18,190 in this country, but the US version carries an MSRP of $15,810 ( U.S. ). I mporting U.S. vehicles became easier last week when Transport Canada announced new bumper standards that are the same as those for vehicles sold in the United States and Europe . Sales of vehicles in the United States have plunged this year and auto makers have not yet adjusted production to compensate, which means there is a larger-thanusual pool of vehicles for Canadian buyers to compete for.

Hindus in US are affluent, educated, socially stable

New York: Hindus, who comprise only 0.4 percent of the US population, are a highly educated and prosperous community, according to a new religion-wise survey in the country. Nearly 43 percent of Hindus earned more than $100,000 a year, second only to the Jews who boast 46 percent in this income bracket, while the national average is 18

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percent. Another 22 percent Hindus had annual incomes between $75,000 and $100,000, and only 9 percent made less than $30,000, according to the survey the Washingtonbased Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported on Monday. The high income levels of Hindus correlate well with their high educational levels. About half of them hold postgraduate degrees and a quarter have some college degree. In this respect, they score better than even Jews, who have only 35 percent with postgraduate degrees and 24 percent with college degrees. Hindus in the US also show high social stability, with 79 percent being married, and only 5 percent reporting divorced or separated, and none saying they are living with partner out of marriage. Sixty one percent of the Hindu population in the country is male, in keeping with the universal trend of men migrating first to another country. Fifty seven percent of the 220 Hindus in the Pew survey sample believed in god or universal spirit, and only 5 percent said they were atheists. Almost 90 percent said many religions can lead to eternal life, showing high levels of tolerance, in fact the highest among all faith communities. The national average for religious tolerance is not bad either at 70 percent on this count. As in India, Hindus constitute a majority among Indian Americans. According to the 2000 census figures, Indian Americans number 2.7 million. Over a million of them are Hindus.

Gas prices will take time to fall

If you're waiting for gasoline prices to be pulled down by the global price of crude oil, don't hold your breath.

An upward swing in crude oil – the raw product from which gasoline in made – normally translates into higher pump prices within a day or two, said Dustin Coupal, cofounder of GasBuddy.com, a website that tracks gas prices throughout North America. But frustratingly, it could take five to seven days for a downward move in crude to register, he said.

“When the crude oil price drops, stations typically have remaining fuel on hand that they've already paid a higher price for and they're not willing to sell it essentially at a loss,” Mr. Coupal said. Stations wait until their tanks are empty until they can buy the wholesale product at a lower cost, at which point they are able to pass the savings along to customers.

When crude oil prices go up, on the other hand, retailers are willing to charge more right away because they know their overhead costs are about to increase. “Everyone's been put in a tough place with the high crude oil prices,” Mr. Coupal said. That includes refiners, which buy crude oil and process into products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Their profit margins have been squeezed by rising costs on one side and on the other by competitive pressures.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Skin cancer soars among young women

Cases of the deadliest form of skin cancer are soaring among young women in the United States, and probably in Canada as well, a trend that some experts say parallels the surge in the multi-million-dollar tanning industry. A study released by the U.S. National Cancer Institute found the annual incidence of melanoma among young women has risen by 50 per cent since 1980. No such rise, however, was seen in young men. Canadian experts say a similar rise in melanoma rates among young women is likely happening here too, and are calling for restrictions on the tanning industry that would include an all-out ban for customers younger than 18. "I predict we'll see a worsening of the situation," said Dr. David Hogg, a cancer physician at Princess Margaret Hospital. "We'll see a spike in melanoma-related deaths due to the increase in the tanning industry." Results from a national survey released yesterday by the Canadian CancerSociety found young people are the ones spending the most time in the sun, but are the least likely to use screening lotions against ultraviolet radiation. Health authorities say skin cancer comes from a lifetime cumulativeeffect of harmful exposure to ultraviolet rays, and young people who patronize tanning salons make themselves especially vulnerable. Overexposure to ultraviolet light, either from the sun or a tanning bed,is the major cause of skin cancer, the most common cancer in Canada. Hogg at Princess Margaret said there are two ways to reduce the incidence of melanoma: encourage people to cover up in the direct sun and ban indoor tanning equipment. In Ontario, melanoma is the second most common cancer among young adults between the ages of 15 and 34, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.

(Toronto Star)

Brain pacemakers halt depression

Ginger is good for..... almost everything

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It's a new frontier for psychiatric illness: brain pacemakers that promise to act as antidepressants by changing how patients' nerve circuitry fires. Scientists already know the power of these devices to block the tremors of Parkinson's disease and related illnesses; more than 40,000 such patients worldwide have the implants. But psychiatric illnesses are much more complex and the new experiments with deep brain stimulation, or DBS, are in their infancy. Only a few dozen patients with severe depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder have been treated in closely monitored studies. Still, the early results are promising. Dramatic video shows one patient visibly brightening as doctors turn on her brain pacemaker and she says in surprise: "I'm starting to smile." And new reports this month show that some worst-case patients, whose depression wasn't relieved by medication, psychotherapy, or even controversial shock treatment, are finding lasting relief. Six of 17 severely depressed patients were in remission a year after undergoing DBS and four more markedly improved, and more than half of 26 obsessive-compulsive patients showed substantial improvement over three years, say studies from a team at the Cleveland Clinic, Brown University in Rhode Island and Belgium's University of Leuven. " Not all patients get better, but when patients respond, it's significant," says Dr. Helen Mayberg of Atlanta's Emory University, who has implanted the device in about 50 depression patients. Her first remains in remission after five years; she estimates that four of every six show enough improvement to be classified as "responders." "We're rewiring the brain in many ways," says Dr. Ali Rezai, chief of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Neurologic Restoration.

What is Ginger Ginger is a strengthening food that has long been used to maintain health. Ginger has a long history of both culinary and medicinal use in Chinese, Japanese and Indian medicines. In ancient China, ginger was regarded as a healing gift from God and was commonly used to cleanse and warm the body. Qualities of Ginger The major active ingredients in ginger are terpenes and oleoresin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, provide antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation, and constipation relief qualities.

* Ginger is good for the respiratory system * It is good to fight against colds and flu * Ginger offers substantial protection from stroke and heart attack because of its ability to prevent blood clotting * Ginger, a multifaceted herb, is crucial in the battle against cardiovascular disease * Relieves headaches and pains * Helps to clear sore throats * Good for upset stomach and indigestion. * It is very effective as a cleansing agent through the bowels and kidneys and also through the skin Some of the problems cured by Ginger

Colds/Flu Kills influenza virus by improving immune system's ability to fight infections. Ginger also relieves headaches.

Increases Circulation Increases the muscular contractions of the heart atria, there by increase in overall circulation. Ginger has been proven to prevent internal blood clots and lowers blood pressure. Ginger Root stimulates the central nervous system controlling the heart and respiratory centers. Ginger helps reduce serum cholesterol, which can slow down circulation. Ginger Relieves Motion/Morning Sickness Ginger is one of the most effective herbal remedies to get rid of Motion/ Morning

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Sickness. Digestive Aid - Indigestion, Stomach Ache Ginger Root increases production of saliva in the mouth and dramatically increases digestive enzyme amylase in the saliva to additionally aid digestion. Ginger Root also contains a very effective digestive enzyme zingibain. Women's Health Ginger Root is good for the uterus as well as the intestinal tract and may ease menstrual cramps

Skin Very cleansing - reduces pus in infected wounds as well as boils. Clears spots caused by chicken pox and shingles. Useful for burns, sores, sunburn, ringworm, warts, herpes, athletes foot and even for dandruff. Stress Protection Ginger Root appears to limit the effects of adrenergic stimulation and there by relieves the stress

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Hindu priest shortage spurs women in USA to become pundits INDIAN DIASPORA

It was a traditional Hindu wedding in Chicago last Sunday, complete with the groom Nitin Malhotra on a white horse, drums, and a decorated mandap. But the priest was Shashi Tandon, a respected female elder in the Hindu community and the groom's grandmother. Since emigrating from New Delhi in 1982, Tandon has presided over countless religious ceremonies for Hindu families in Chicago, Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, filling a void that has emerged because of a shortage of Hindu priests. As more Hindu men enter more lucrative, secular professions, Tandon and a handful of Hindu women in America have begun performing priestly duties as a way of passing their faith to the next generation.There is nothing in Hindu scripture that bars women from becoming priests, also known as pandits.But in some parts of India and the U.S., women priests face resistance from conservative Hindus clinging to tradition. Tandon, 68, a retired teacher with a feisty attitude, recalled a group of men mocking her at one wedding she performed. They asked, How can a woman be a priest?"I said to them, 'I have a question for you. Can you tell me who gave birth to you?' " she said. "The mother is the true priest. She is the true teacher, the first teacher of the child." Neelima Shukla-Bhatt, a South Asian studies professor at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, said more Hindu women are learning priestly functions not necessarily because they feel drawn to religious life. Rather, women—including Shukla-Bhatt— are stepping forward to meet the growing Hindu community's needs. Today there are more than 1 million Hindus in the U.S. and more than 700 Hindu mandirs, or temples. The Chicago area is home to some 80,000 Hindus, according to a Chicago-based interfaith research group.Although no firm numbers exist, Shukla-Bhatt said fewer Hindu-American men are becoming priests. Shukla- Bhatt said many of the earliest Hindu texts speak of women priests. In Hinduism's most ancient book, the Vedas, there are multiple references to women making sacrifices and participating in philosophical debates. But, at some point, things changed."It' s not that women weren't allowed to do this. It's that somewhere along the line, it got lost, and it became mainly a male profession," she said. "But in the most ancient scriptures, there were women priests. So, we should reclaim that." Tandon was born in Multan, which was then in India, and raised in New Delhi. Her mother taught her how to do daily fire rituals. She concedes that she didn't like it very much at first. However, once she learned the meaning, she felt a desire to be a priest. She studied in an ashram, learned the scriptures and received training to perform all 16 samskaras, the sacraments or rites of passage for every Hindu. In India, the concept of women priests is not new. In fact, in the progressive western city of Pune, there are two schools that train women. However, those in other regions say female priests are a violation of Vedic

law. Some Hindu immigrants from those regions who have come to the U.S. have been shocked to find women performing religious rituals. So for many Hindus, this is a new thing," she said. "People don't see it as much. It's not the norm."As more women come forward, they have begun to gain appreciation and respect, especially among second-generation Hindu-Americans. Tandon believes many women are losing touch with their religion and are not passing traditions to their children. "Mothers came to America because they didn't have enough freedom. Then, after getting freedom, they forgot their culture," she said. "They are not doing prayers because they don't know why they need to do them."

British Govt. scraps bonds for Indian family visitors

The British government had a controversial proposal to introduce financial bonds for people visiting their relatives in Britain. The South Asian community led by the Indian community campaigned strongly against the proposal forcing the Government to withdraw the proposal. British citizens or permanent residents in Britain will have to become 'licensed sponsors' before their relatives can be allowed to visit . Sponsors will be obligated to ensure that their visitors leave before the expiration of the visa. A sponsor, who fails in his duties, can face a ban on bringing anyone else into the UK. The British government has now scrapped a controversial proposal to introduce financial bonds for people visiting their relatives. The widespread criticism led British Immigration Minister Liam Byrne to take the unprecedented step of broadening the threemonth process of consultation on the proposal to include ordinary people in India. The government said visitors will now be allowed to stay for a maximum of six months. While there will be no financial bonds for family visitors, those who broke the rules will face civil penalties. Under a new system, British citizens or those who are permanent residents in Britain will have to become licensed sponsors before their relatives can be allowed to visit. "Sponsors will have a duty to ensure that their visitors comply with the terms of their visa and that they leave before the visa ends... If sponsors fail in their duties, they face a ban on bringing anyone else into the UK, or in more extreme cases, fines of up to 5,000 pounds or imprisonment, " the government said. The government has also introduced a new low-cost three-month group visa for tourists that is likely to be tested in India before worldwide implementation.

Indo-Caribbean Times

JULY 2008

Page 21

Indian students Nominations the best in the invited for world diaspora awards

Indian students are considered among the best in the world, according to the legendary Oxford University's Chancellor, Chris Patten. Hence, Chancellor Patten is calling for more of them to join the campus. The London University has produced some the best students who went on to play pivotal roles on the world stage. Such personalities include Indian Prime Minister Manhoman Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Currently, there are Indian 257 students on the institution registrar roll. "We want more Indian students because we want the best in the world to come to Oxford," Chancellor Patten told Press Trust of India news agency. Most of the Indian students have enrolled in the Business School. Patten continued, "About a quarter of the students are doing MBAs". He continued, "But I would like to see more in social sciences and humanities, doing both undergraduate and post-graduate work." Though Indian students are lesser in number, they have won more scholarships than their Chinese counterparts. In 2007, they won 54 different scholarships, including the Prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, according to an Oxford journal. A one-year MBA program could cost around Rs 4 million, including the cost of tuition fee, boarding and lodging and the out-of-pocket expenses.

Rushdie gets knighthood and Booker Award

Indian-origin author Salman Rushdie, has won the 'Best of the Booker' award for Midnight Children. The announcement was made at the London Literature Festival in London on Thursday. The winner of the title has been decided by public global voting. Millions of people, including from India, voted for the one-off award on the Internet, through online partnerships, with national and international media, with libraries, reading groups and book retailers. Besides Rushdie's Midnight Children, the other five contenders were: Pat Parker's 'The Ghost Road', Peter Carey's 'Oscar and Lucinda', J M Coetzee's 'Disgrace', J G Farrell's 'The Siege of Krishnapur' and Nadine Gordimer's 'The Conservationist' . The award celebrates the 40th anniversary of the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction. The only time that a celebratory award has previously been created was in 1993, its 25th anniversary, when Rushdie won the 'Booker of Bookers' award for Midnight's Children. Rushdie was also knighted early this month by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature.

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Nominations are invited for the Bharatvanshi Gaurav Samman - 2009 from eminent personalities of Indian Diaspora by Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas (Trust for international co-operation) . The Award carries Rs. one lakh in cash, a citation, a plaque and a shawl. The nominations along with detailed bio-data are to reach the Nyas Office at 6-M, Bhagat Singh Market, New Delhi-110001 by 30th September 2008. The Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas was created with the objective of maintaining close contacts with the Indian Diaspora and to acknowledge and appreciate their achievements by publicly honoring at least one person every year to be selected for excellence for working for the Indian Diaspora. The Nyas honored Ranjith Ramnarain of South Africa in 2005, Satnarayan Maharaj of Trinidad & Tobago in the year 2006 and Dr. Thomas Abraham of United States in January 2008 at New Delhi for their contributions to the Diaspora. The Selection Committee includes prominent members of the Indian Diaspora such as Sir Aneroodh Jagnauth, President of the Mauritius Republic; Mahendra Choudhry, Finance Minister of Fiji; Basdeo Pandey, former Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago; Dr. Ved P. Nanda, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Denver University, USA; Subhash Chandra, Chairman & Managing Director Zee Telefilms Ltd.; and R. P. N. Singh, Chairman S. S. R. Medical College, Mauritius. J. C. Sharma, former Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, is the President of the Nyas.

Indian woman is Britain’s youngest doctor at 22 years

At the age of 22, Indian-origin Heenal Raichura has qualified to become Britain's youngest doctor and is all set to practice medicine. Daughter of Nalin and Shobhna Raichura, Heenal was accepted into university to study medicine in 2002 when she was 16. Six years later she has passed her degree and is all set to start work at University College London Hospital where she hopes to become a surgeon. Heenal said that, "It's quite a surreal feeling to actually, finally, become a doctor after six years of a degree. To finally come out at the end and say, 'I'm a doctor', my childhood dream, is an indescribable feeling. "My parents tell stories about how I would come over and put my head against their chest because I didn't have a stethoscope to play with. I was always interested in trying to figure out what was going wrong with the body." Her proud father Nalin, 65, said: "She encountered immense difficulty in finding universities that would accept her at the age of 16 because the minimum age at entry is 17 years 6 months." She was offered a place to study medicine at St George's University in London where six years later she has graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. She received her degree at a presentation ceremony in June and is believed to be Britain's youngest doctor. On top of the normal five years of medical study Heenal also spent an extra year to get a degree in Anatomy and Developmental Biology from the University College of London.

A sporting time at ACG picnic

Indo-Caribbean Times

Canada’s Beijing basketball dreams are dead .

The Canadian men's basketball team's bid to qualify for just its second Olympic tournament in 20 years and first since 2000 fell short as they were out-classed 83-62 by Croatia in the quarter-finals in Greece this morning.

These fabulous looking ladies are enjoying the lime and spoon race for women.

It was a must-win game but the best Canada could do was work a 20-20 tie at the midway point of the second quarter against the favoured European team in the FIBA Olympic qualifier. From that point on Croatia steadily extended the lead and Canada was never within 10 points after the opening minute of the second half. Canada only made it to the quarter-finals thanks to an unlikely comeback against Korea on Wednesday morning, as they used a 14-0 run to climb out of a 12-point hole in the final three minutes of the opening-round game.

Some of the cricketers pose with ACG's Mani Singh and David Ramsami (right)

There was a lot of familiar sporting activities when the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG) held its 30th Annual Family Picnic last Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Milliken Park in Scarborough. Cricket, dominoes, soccer, bag races, and even the good old lime and spoon race were part of the fun enjoyed by all. The event was once again a grand success with approximately 600 people coming out for a day of fun, sun, music, children’s games, and cricket and the new dominoes competition, according to Mr. Mani Singh, Vice-President of the ACG. The music was supplied by the one and only, Suresh Hanoman and the Melody Masters Orchestra who did a fantastic job with his array of singers. The intense Cricket Competition kept the spectators on their toes, screaming their advice and clapping their hands in approval. The first prize trophies were won by Toscanna Sports and Malvern All Stars and the runner-ups were Young CEO’s and King Sports Club. Trophies were sponsored by the following Businesses; SR Mortgages Services Ltd., MRS Realty, J&K West Indian Cuisine and Victor’s Collection Agency. The cricket matches were co-ordinated by ACG member David Ramsami. This year the ACG introduced and hosted

a “King Domino” competition where 18 participants from the Guyanese Community took part. Trophies were awarded to Krishna, Randy Muneshwar, Winston Vincent and Suraj Singh for their excellent performances. The Domino competition was co-ordinated by ACG member Andrew Persaud. Raffle prizes were donated by community spirited business people like; Jay Jairam Jay’s Auto Repairs; Karran Singh – Priamerica Financial Advisor; Rudy Lochan – Anava Mortgage Brokers; Ben Parsram – Forest Hill Homes; Artie Ricknauth – Mortgage Central; Brancier Jewellery of Milton and ACG members Sumintra Sarjoo, Janet Naidu and Mani Singh. Everyone feasted on platefuls of ‘just off the grill’ BBQ Chicken, Fried Rice, Chowmein, Macaroni, Channa and Salad. Fresh water coconuts and the staple Guyanese snacks like plantain chips, fried channa, pholourie were provided by Jhonny’s International Supermarket, which rounded off the eating bonanza. The event was graced by the presence of no other than Guyana’s current Minister of Human Service and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manikchand, who went around the park meeting and greeting fellow Guyanese.

CHESS, DRAUGHT AND DOMINO TOURNAMENTS

Players of all skill levels (beginners to advanced) are invited to participate. Tournaments held every month during the winter.

See schedule at www.horizoncricketclub.com or phone 905-794-5423. Also, adult and kids CHESS LESSONS (beginners to advance). Learn to play the world’s best board game. Registration information at www.horizoncricketclub.com

Jermaine Anderson of Canada, left, passes the ball as Stanko Barac of Croatia defends during a quarter-final basketball game for FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament at the indoor Olympic arena in Athens on Friday.

There was no drama this time. Croatia simply suffocated the Canadians defensively and made enough of the open three-point looks Canada gave them that the game was never truly in doubt as they found themselves down by 20 points heading into the fourth quarter and finished the tournament with a 1-2 mark. The loss ends an Olympic qualifying effort that started with some promise given Leo Rautins's team started the journey by finishing a dismal 10th at the tournament of the Americas in 2005, his first taste of head coaching at any level after taking over from Jay Triano.

Two years later Canada finished fifth in the same tournament, failing to qualify for the Olympics but snagging a spot in the 12team last-chance qualifier in Athens where there were three spots available.

Rautins had high hopes for his team heading into the summer but it wasn't a smooth one. On the first day of training camp Rautins was left to explain why national team veteran Denham Brown wasn't in camp -- he couldn't, Rautins said, because Brown never bothered to call, prefering to simply never show up.

After three weeks of training Rautins cut Juan Mendez of Montreal the day before they left for Europe. Another big man, Jesse Young, was kept on the roster but ended up being unavailable due to an injury suffered in training camp. Most controversially Rautins had a confrontation with Philadelphia 76ers centre Samuel Dalembert in the hours before a do-or-die match against Korea that they won in a stunning secondhalf comeback that made up for brutal first half and a flat showing against Slovenia in the opener. Dalembert was released from the squad, shrouding the team in controversy.

JULY 2008

Page 22

Canadian NBA star with TT roots fights violence in Toronto

NBA star Jamaal Magloire is using his fame and popularity to address the uncontrollable upsurge in criminal activity among young people, particularly Caribbean youth. Magloire, the son of Trinidadians Marion and Garth Magloire, originally of Diego Martin, started the Queen of the Islands Canada Pageant in Toronto last year. The show was a resounding success and funds raised were donated to United Mothers Opposing Violence Everywhere (UMOVE) www.umoveonline.com. Magloire has been quietly committed to the fight against violence since his younger brother Justin was murdered in Toronto almost a decade ago. No one has ever been arrested for the tragic gun-slaying. At present, the basketball player lines up as a centre with the New Jersey Jets team in the NBA. This year’s Queen of the Islands Canada pageant is scheduled to take place at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall, 930 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, with 17 delegates vying for the title. They are expected to be adjudicated in categories of Intelligence, Talent and Evening Wear. Barbados, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Guadeloupe, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago are all represented in the 2008 line-up of contestants. The objective of Magloire and the team of committee executives, including PR/Marketing executive Judy Austin, is to empower and elevate the contestants in different aspects of life including education and exposure. The pageant also provides a platform for the young participants, who are second generation Caribbean people, to learn about their heritage and culture.

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