VOL. 6, NO. 13 • June 27, 2012 618 Strouds Lane, Pickering, ON L1V 4S9 • Tel: 905.831-4402 • Fax: 416.292.2943 • Email: [email protected] How About A Top Up Mr. President?

Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar, stopped by Digicel’s booth during his walkabout at the June 23 Annual Guyana Festival. This year’s Festival, which was staged at a new venue on the grounds of the Markham Civic Centre, attracted thousands of attendees and scores of sponsor com- panies including Western Union, Norman Sue’s Bakery and Caribbean Airlines. The Guyanese President had an enjoyable time during his walkabout, stopping at virtually every booth to pose for photos and chat with the staffers. Digicel’s event staffer Natalie Campbell was one of the many who attracted the President’s atten- tion. Digicel’s participation in this year’s Guyana In- dependence Festival, its first time ever, was geared towards promoting the Canadian availability of its Top Up Service to Guyana. The service allows Guyanese residents in Canada to purchase credits for the cell phones of their loved ones back home. Digicel’s visibly branded booth proved to be one of the most popular of those on display at the June 23 Festival. Thousands of attendees visited the Digicel booth to avail themselves of the com- pany’s attractive giveaways which included cell cards were available at the Festival in denomina- is also now available at hundreds of Caribbean- phone holders, flashlight key chains, backpacks tions of $6, $20 and $25. owned community stores across the GTA, includ- and t-shirts. Many hundreds also made use of the Digicel’s Top Up service from Canada to Guy- ing Brampton’s ASA Meats, Charlie’s West Indian opportunity to purchase Digicel cards to Top Up ana, Jamaica, Haiti and other Caribbean countries and Nicey’s. the cell phones of their loved ones in Guyana. The London Olympics To Feature Caribbean Talent Regional talent will come under the spotlight artistes scheduled to take the stage are: Michele will be performing will represent the diverse na- during the London 2012 Olympics as the Caribbe- Henderson (Dominica), Belo (Haiti), Hezron ture of musical genres across the Caribbean. Not an Export Development Agency Clarke (Jamaica), Claudia Ed- only will the entertainment industry benefit from (Caribbean Export) hosts Carib- ward (St Lucia), Mr. Dale (Bar- the increased demand for the products on offer, bean Soul Fusion on August 9 at bados) and Xiomara Fortuna but also performers will have the opportunity to Grosvenor House in London. Two (Dominican Republic). display the export potential of their craft and its headline acts and six emerging ar- “One of the best identifiers appeal to an international audience,” she added. tistes will be featured at the event, of the Caribbean Brand and Caribbean Soul Fusion will also serve as the which forms part of the Agency’s its uniqueness is our music. Its closing reception for the 2nd CARIFORUM-EU London Engage initiative and will ability to have global appeal is Business Forum, which is scheduled from August highlight a wide range of Carib- unquestionable. What we are 8 to 9. The CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum is bean music genres: reggae, soca, seeking to do with Caribbean supported under the European Union’s (EU) 10th zouk and kompa, Caribbean jazz, Soul Fusion is to showcase that European Development Fund (EDF) Regional folk and Afro-Haitian. authentic Caribbean culture and Private Sector Development Programme (RPS- The concert’s headline acts are widen the market appeal for our DP), and in collaboration with CARIFORUM reggae singer/songwriter Christo- regional music,” said Pamela Directorate, the CARICOM Secretariat, and pher Martin (Jamaica) and jazz/ Coke Hamilton, Executive Di- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusam- reggae saxophonist Arturo Tap- Arturo Tappin rector, Caribbean Export. menarbeit (GIZ). pin (Barbados). The six emerging “As such, the artistes that PAGE 2 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012 Community Cricketers Honored At Mercy Hospital Fundraising Gala

Over two hundred guests attended the June 22 “Evening With Guyana’s Cricketing Heroes Gala,” that was held at the Markham Hilton Suites Hotel. Unfortunately only two of the five Guyanese and West Indian cricket- ers that were being honored managed to actually make it to the Gala. Basil Butcher and Lance Gibbs were present, but the other award recipients, Stephen Camacho, Clive Lloyd and Joe Solo- man were all unable to attend. A sixth award was presented posthumously to Roy Fredericks, the former Guyanese and West Indies opening batsman. Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar took time from his hectic Canadian tour schedule to attend the Gala and present the Awards to Butcher and Gibbs. The awards were presented as tokens of ap- preciation for the cricketer’s respective outstanding performances, while rep- resenting Guyana and the West Indies. Highlights of the honored cricketer’s respective careers were presented by Ian McDonald (Clive Lloyd), Tony McWatt (Stephen Camacho and Lance Gibbs), Frank Bettencourt, (Roy Fred- ericks) and Kenty Khan (Joe Solo- man). Longstanding Guyanese Dra- matist and storyteller Ken Corsbie had the attendees in constant stitches, with humorous recollections of his boyhood daysgrowing up in Guyana. Canadian- Caribbean Graphic’s Advertisng Manager Lyn Balram is “roseended” by cricketing Award recipients Basil Butcher and Lance Gibbs.

based Guyanese-born calypsonian The Proceeds from the $125 plate Gala Crooner also entertained the audience were in aid of the Guyana Mercy Hos- with renditions of his self written ca- pital Rebuilding Fund. The hospital lypsos. Music for dancing was provid- was severely damaged by fire in 2010. ed by the Bing Serrao led Ramblers.

Letter from Clive Lloyd June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 3

Jerry Ramlochan Memorial Gold Tournament C On Saturday June 16, 2012 the Ramlo- finest Carnival costumes. The day saw pa- aribbean chan family in conjunction with the OB trons drinking Carib beer and wining rum Limers Soccer Club held the Third Annual sponsored by Angostura. Other sponsors Jerry Ramlochan Memorial Golf Tourna- of the event included Bianca Aziz - Scotia- ment. The event was a resounding success bank, the Naparima Alumni Association of with fantastic weather and well over 100 Toronto, International Telephone Products, guests who attended the dinner, which fol- Oumarally, Baboolal Legal as well as Ca- lowed golf. ribbean Graphic. Also in attendance was The event was held at the Royal Ontario a representative of the Big Brothers and Golf Course. Owner Mr. Iggy Kanneff was Sisters of Peel, the Charity recipient of the present and full of praise for the event’s event’s part proceeds. Caribbean flavour. The event’s attendees Great fun was had by all. included attractive Xpats models in their J ewel

Melanie:

Lovely Melanie is a talented individual who is very much involved in the Carib- bean community. She has been involved in making mas and modeling costumes for Caribana since she was 14. This year marks her debut as a Section Leader with Blues Carnival Fusion. PAGE 4 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012 Bollywood: Lights, Camera, Action!

Bollywood: used to and encour- Lights, Camera, age other people to Action! That is this embrace it as well. year’s theme for I want everybody to the Toronto Revel- Christine participate. It doesn’t lers; a band in the matter what national- Scotiabank Toronto Reid ity or where you’re Caribbean Carnival from. Embrace the led by Toronto Raptors’ Jamaal Ma- Toronto Caribbean Carnival and em- gloire. brace what the Toronto Revellers are Every year the Toronto Revellers trying to do and enjoy an experience depict a different theme and the in- of a lifetime.” explained Magloire. spiration behind this particular one The Toronto Revellers is a cultural came from a friend of Jamaal Ma- non-profit organization that aims to gloire’s during a discussion over contribute to the multicultural land- dinner. “He said Jamaal, why don’t scape of Canada by promoting, cel- you play Bollywood? Once he said ebrating and exploring the rich cul- that, it stuck in my head and I said tural diversities and traditions of the ‘you know what, that’s a great theme Caribbean. From the time when they and I want to do that’ hence the rea- entered the Carabana (now known son why we’re here now. ” said Ma- as Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean gloire. Carnival) competition in 2005, the Historically speaking, the Carib- Toronto Revellers have become the bean Carnival focuses on the unique- premiere masquerade band. For two ness of Caribbean culture; however, consecutive years, 2007 and 2008, having a theme of Bollywood allows they were awarded the “Band of the the festival to highlight other cul- Year” titles. Presently, their band in- tures and showcase the diversity of volvement has surpassed 2000 par- the Toronto community. “I wanted ticipants. to embrace a different culture other Toronto carnival historian and one than our own. Too often than not, of the original founders of Caribana, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is Tony Ishmael has been supporting only about West Indian/Caribbean the Revellers for years now. Based people and I wanted to embrace the on the quality of the costumes, the Indian culture and let them know that dedication and professionalism of all we can embrace other cultures other the Revellers, tapping into his wealth than our own. I wanted a chance to of experience has definitely paid off. do something different and embrace Look out for Jamaal Magloire and something that we’re not normally the Revellers at Carnival time! Jamaal Magloire June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 5 Caribbean Perspective URGENT NEED TO RESTORE CREDITIBILITY TO CARICOM

Caribbean Community Heads of Govern- oil-rich Republic. When non-tariff barriers span; and a credible reorganisation and strengthening of the Sec- ment at their annual summit in St. Lucia early are erected, it further aggravates producers retariat and CARICOM institutions focused on the management next month need to move forward with rec- in the affected countries, leading some- of implementation. ommendations to address the “ weakened” times to damaging tit-for-tat policies. The report noted that around 25 per cent of senior level posts at nerve centre of the integration movement, the At next month’s Summit of CARICOM the Secretariat are currently unfilled, with key vacancies in “piv- CARICOM Secretariat, put firm governance Sandra Ann leaders, there will be a focus on issues otal areas”. arrangements in place and begin implementing identified by Landell Mills Consultants “The organisation needs an infusion of new blood, bringing a five-year year development plan if they are to Baptiste who confirmed just how ailing the integra- new approaches and ideas, particularly at the senior levels,” the restore some credibility to CARICOM. tion movement is and how much medi- report stated, adding that the Secretariat needs many more man- Outgoing CARICOM Chairman, Surina- cine, commitment and vision is needed to agers since very few staff had management training or showed me’s President Desi Bouterse, was optimistic at the start of his ensure that the regional grouping recovers. leadership skills. tenure as Chairman that 2012 would be a year of change. He will Hopefully, as planned at the February meeting of the Heads It concluded that the vision of CARICOM needs to be updated hopefully persuade his colleagues to make this a reality by tak- of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis, a Change Facilitator has to reflect today’s world. It also observed that specific proposals ing urgent action on a number of fronts instead of the usual slow been recruited to assist CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin la are developed on a piecemeal basis and that there is no policy motion approach. Rocque with the process of restructuring the Secretariat in accor- making in the think-thank sense. Caribbean leaders also need to show in a tangible way that dance with the recommendations of the Mills Report, produced “A lack of serious economic and financial evaluation means steps are being taken to move ahead with the CARICOM Single in January this year by three consultants – Justice Duke Pollard, that mandated policy initiatives have little or no chance of even Market and Economy (CSME) and that obstacles to freedom of management consultant Richard Stoneman and financial expert becoming reality, “the report added. movement within the region are removed by all fifteen member Hugo Inniss. It also suggested that the format of annual meetings of Heads states once and for all. The CARICOM Bureau was expected to conduct a parallel of Government, with the pomp, ceremony and lengthy speeches For this year, there have been many storm clouds with insuf- exercise, working with an internal group from the Secretariat to should be replaced with discussions in caucus and “abandon all ficient attention being paid to strategies to cushion the effects of facilitate improving regional governance and implementation and the frippery, expense and wasted time”. It also advocated regular the global financial crisis on the region including the current debt submit a Strategic Plan for consideration in St. Lucia. smaller meetings with more use of video-conferencing. crisis in the Eurozone and social issues such as visible measures Thankfully, the Mills report threw cold water on the proposal The Mills report also said a “fundamental improvement” in re- to stem the continuing brazen criminal activities in some Member by the CARICOM leaders to set up a permanent Committee of lations with the private sector is long overdue. Instead of annual States. CARICOM Ambassadors as the main solution for the governance meetings with private sector organizations, the Mills report called Over the past few months, the ill-advised and unfortunate call issues. The report did say such a committee could lend “informal for the CARICOM leaders to have direct dialogue with leading by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for Jamaica to pull support” by providing advice to the Secretary General and play figures in the business community in the region. out of CARICOM and the trade dispute between Trinidad and To- a troubleshooting and coordinating role in their own countries. The Heads of Government were also advised to work more bago and its sister CARICOM States Jamaica and Barbados have The Heads of Government ought to refresh themselves with the closely with the business community to promote investment to brought added strain to an already shaky integration movement. observations outlined in the report titled “Turning Around CARI- the Caribbean. No one who has followed Jamaican politics can be surprised at COM: Proposals to Restructure the CARICOM Secretariat”. The The observation in the report that no one organization is truly the antics of the JLP and it is widely known that the ruling Peo- report highlighted a plethora of deficiencies, chief among these representative of the region’s private sector is a loud signal to ple’s National Party (PNP) has always been more pro-Caribbean. the weakening of the Secretariat, including its lack or direction, the Caribbean business community and particularly the Carib- As for the trade spat involving Trinidad and Tobago, that coun- outdated communication methods, and the absence of priorities bean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) to get its act try’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar needs to ensure that and vision. together. Indeed, it is both the region’s government and private there is a level playing field when it comes to intra-regional trade. The report identified three main requirements for the “survival sector organisations that are in dire need of a major overhaul. It is challenging for Caribbean countries to compete with a and recovery” of CARICOM: the full and equivocal support of country whose cost of production is much less than its CARI- Member States; targeting the delivery of a narrow range of spe- (Sandra Ann Baptiste is a business consultant and Specialist in COM partners due to the significantly lower energy costs in the cific, practical and achievable benefits in a reasonable short time Caribbean Affairs). PAGE 6 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012 Commentary Guyanese Pride On Display Guyanese Canadians pride in their country and the achieve- Having always had close cricketing ties with both of those The venue also facilitated the staging of the Cultural Show, the ments of their fellow country folk was on full display during the esteemed gentlemen, it was indeed and honor for me to recap- Softball Cricket and the Dominoes Tournament, the Festival’s June 22-24 weekend. The weekend was filled with events that ture for the audience some of the highlights of their outstanding three cornerstone activities within very close proximity of each marked the Guyanese-Canadian community’s official celebration achievements for Guyana and the West Indies. The presence in other. The only thing lacking this year was the absence of the of Guyana’s 46th Anniversary of Independence that had been the audience of the likes of Steve Camacho’s brother Ian and ever popular Bar area. Consul General Sattie Sawh and her cadre achieved on May 26th of this year. his lovely wife Michelle, the Fisher brothers Mark and Nigel of volunteers, all of whom did such an excellent job managing On Friday June 22 there was a Gala Dinner in celebration of and their respective adorable wives Marje and Kim, as well as this year’s Festival will undoubtedly want to seek to correct that Guyana’s cricketing heroes, the proceeds from which were in Ritchie Seymour, all of whom I have known since forever back omission for next year. aid of the Mercy Hospital Rebuilding Fund. As one of Guyana’s in Guyana, made the evening that more special. Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar certainly seemed to en- leading institutions of health care, Mercy Hospital was badly As icing to that already delicious cake, Jeewan Darshanand joy the Festival. He was absolutely in his political element during damaged by fire a few years ago. and his wife Ann Clarke, two of my most treasured college mates his walkabout, stopping at each and every booth to pose for pho- Basil Butcher and Lance Gibbs were the only two of the five from University of Toronto’s Scarborough Campus, were also tos and chat with the respective event staffers. Throughout his illustrious Guyanese and West Indian cricket heroes slated to ne seated at our table. So too were Bart Singh and his wife Jan. Bart walkabout he was incessantly shadowed, almost comically, by honored at the Gala, able to attend. Clive Lloyd, Stephen Cama- and I had served together at the Ontario Cricket Association dur- his self-appointed photographer for the day, the Caribbean Cam- cho and Joe Soloman all had to decline their invitations for un- ing its glory days back in the nineties. He was the Association’s era’s Gerald Paul. One can only wonder what “Eyes” will ever avoidable reasons. very competent Treasurer and I its Executive Director. do with the literally hundreds of shots he took of the President Such was the significance of the contributions of Butcher and For me it was therefore a very special and memorable evening at the Festival. Gibbs to Guyana and West Indies cricket that the country’s Presi- indeed. On what was a very commendable display of Guyanese-Cana- dent Donald Ramotar, who was in town for the weekend, invited On the following day, Saturday June 24th, Markham’s Civic dian community spirit over the weekend, the only blemish was himself to the Gala, He also requested of the organizers that he be Centre served as venue for the Annual Guyana Independence the choice made by the Coconuts Restaurant and its management the one to make the presentations to Messrs Butcher and Gibbs. Festival for the very first time. Since its inception, years ago in to stage their own Guyana Day events, in direct competition to Other than the presentations, the evening’s indisputable high- the nineties, the Festival had previously been held at Scarbor- the Independence Festival. With so many other weekends avail- light was the entertainment provided by Guyanese dramatist and ough’s Lamoreaux Community Center. able throughout the year, their choice of June 23-24 for their own story-teller Ken Corsbie who had been flown in for the event. The change of venue to more remote, far less accessible festivities was in very poor taste indeed. Having now been staged Corsbie had the audience in stitches with his humorous recollec- Markham Civic Centre, unfortunately adversely affected the at- for years during third weekend in June as the Guyanese-Canadi- tions of his boyhood days growing up in Guyana. tendance. By my admittedly very unscientific estimation there an Community’s official celebration of their country’s Indepen- For me it was a very memorable throwback to the glory days were in the end only just about one third of the fifteen to twenty- dence the Festival deserved far more respect than accorded by of theatre back home in Guyana when the “All Ah We” com- five thousand who customarily attended the Festival in previous the folks at Coconuts. Shame on you, Kishore. bination of Corsbie, Marc Matthews and Henry Mutoo used to years. Notwithstanding that unfortunate demonstration of a lack of entertain audiences at the Theatre Guild with the finest displays Despite its reduced attendance, the Markham Festival was community spirit, it was nevertheless and outstanding weekend of Guyanese drama. however superbly organized. The far more spacious venue al- of displayed pride for the Guyanese Canadian community. Ku- To have the new found love of my life, Resident Love Goddess lowed all of the event’s impressive collection of sponsors to have dos to all who contributed to making it so. present with me to enjoy Corsbie’s performance made the eve- their booths in the same area. It was much easier for attendees ning that much more memorable. As did my participation in in- to access the booths and the crowding and congestion that had troducing Steve Camacho and Lance Gibbs as award recipients. characterized the event at Lamoreaux was thankfully eliminated. Tony Mc Rio+20: Canada Not Helpful To Caribbean Plight The Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janei- tions, that the fundamental principles agreed shortly in the Journal of Development Studies, on “Climate ro, Brazil, has brought the world no closer at Rio in 1992 would be reversed. Change and the Future of Caribbean Development”, Matthew to a safer global environment. Indeed, if At paragraph 15, it states: “We reaffirm all Bishop and Anthony Payne point out that small states are the the measure of its success is that the large the principles of the Rio Declaration on En- least contributors to pollution and that they need help not with and influential countries stood still while Sir Ronald vironment and Development, including, inter mitigation (reduction of domestic emissions) but with adaptation the dreadful effects of Climate Change alia, the principle of common but differenti- (establishing policies and infrastructure to cope with the effects sped along, the Conference was a disap- Sanders ated responsibilities, as set out in Principle 7 of climate change). But such limited sums as have been made pointment. of the Rio Declaration”. This is an important available are open to all developing countries. Small island de- Heads of Government, who bothered to reaffirmation, because the original Rio under- veloping countries “have limited advocacy capacity to help them turn up for the Summit meeting, could do little to alter the ‘out- taking recognized that while all countries have common respon- gain a slice of what is still a relatively meagre pie; there is no come document’ that had been laboriously negotiated by their sibilities for protecting the environment, rich countries (among mechanism in place to ascertain which states are most in need officials over weeks of painful talks that sometimes threatened to the biggest polluters) also have a responsibility to provide the of adaptation finance; and the vast majority of the money (all reverse the fundamental principles that were agreed 20 years ago resources, both financial and technological, to help poorer coun- but approximately US$250 million) is being channelled through at the first Earth Summit in Rio. The leaders made long speeches tries. Some developed countries wanted to change that language either the World Bank or Western NGOs and donor agencies, that changed not a word in the document. to make it conditional; the fact that the language has remained in rather than the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Such Heads of government, who could have made a differ- place at least gives developing countries a basis for insisting that (UNFCCC), itself ‘the most appropriate institution to make this ence, were not there. They included Barack Obama of the US, the big polluters stick to their commitment. and other key decisions about adaptation financing’. Stephen Harper of Canada, Angela Merkel of Germany and Da- For small island states and developing countries with low- Of the Caribbean countries, Barbados has invested resources vid Cameron of the UK. Their four countries are among the top lying coastal areas, the specific paragraph on sea level rise is and is ‘one of the few countries in the Western Hemisphere to ten polluters in the world, and an enlightened approach by them extremely disappointing. Paragraph 165 of the ‘outcome docu- develop and implement a national policy for sustainable devel- could have made a difference. ment’ merely “noted” that sea level rise and coastal erosion are opment’. But, for all Caribbean countries, however good their The absence of Canada’s Prime Minister reflects the troubling serious threats for many coastal regions and islands particularly national programmes, a regional response is necessary through attitude of the Canadian government to Global Environmental in developing countries. All that it then did was to call on the empowered joint machinery to negotiate financing for the region. problems. It is an attitude that caused the Secretary-General of international community “to enhance its efforts to address these As Bishop and Payne put it: “If Caribbean states and societies the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, Canadian Maurice Strong, challenges”. No specific actions are proposed and no specific can develop a range of original and compelling approaches to to lament the radically changed Canadian position. Many coun- measures are adopted. the issue (as, in some respects, they have been seeking to do both tries, such as those in the Caribbean that look to Canada for Reflecting the fact that the developed countries and the large individually and collectively), they may be able to help shift the progressive leadership that would help their worrying situation, developing ones, such as China and India, are now more con- nature of those structures a little further in the direction of a cre- were deeply disappointed that Canada blocked compromise on cerned about the risks to their economies posed by the Eurozone ative response”. a number of high-profile issues, including phasing out subsidies debt crisis, no new monies were pledged for combating Climate Rio+20 was not a turning point for a better future for the plan- for oil and gas exploration, and for not trying to help find consen- Change and global warming. Instead, the ‘outcome document’ et. But, at least, it was not a turning back. The Caribbean should sus on crucial points. appears to have postponed the entire issue by agreeing “to estab- now take advantage of the continued stated commitment to sus- As it turned out, the Conference did absolutely nothing to help lish an intergovernmental process under the United Nations Gen- tainable development (meeting the needs of the present without small island states, like those in the Caribbean, and developing eral Assembly” that will “assess financing needs, consider the compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own countries with low coastal areas such as Guyana and Belize. effectiveness, consistency and synergies of existing instruments needs) to ensure that, collectively, it gains access to the funding The ‘outcome document’ was made public in Rio on the day and frameworks, and evaluate additional initiatives, with a view for adaptation it urgently needs. No one country can do it alone. before the Summit began. In its effort to include language that to prepare a report proposing options on an effective Sustainable addresses the concerns of governments, rich and poor, small Development Financing Strategy to facilitate the mobilization of (The writer is a Consultant and former Caribbean diplomat) island states and land-locked countries, as well as non-govern- resources and their effective use in achieving sustainable devel- mental environmental organizations, the ‘outcome document’ is opment objectives”. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronald- 283-paragraphs long and repetitive in many places. But, it is not That long process is to be undertaken by a group of experts sanders.com a document that moves the world forward. The most that can be who will report to the UN at the end of 2014. said of it is that it averts the fears, expressed during the negotia- Time, meanwhile, is running out. In a paper to be published

Publisher/Editor: Tony McWatt Editorial Consultant : Malcolm Cliffe Contributors: Sandra Ann Baptiste, Beverly Brown, Akua Hinds, Christine Reid, Sir Ronald Sanders, Legal: Oumarally and Baboolal Graphic Design: AM Creative 618 Strouds Lane, Pickering, ON L1V 4S9 • Tel: 905.831-4402 • Fax: 416.292.2943 • Email: [email protected] • www.caribbeangraphic.ca June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 7 Caribbean Destinations Nevis Where You Are Only A Stranger Once

Nevis is an island in the Caribbean Sea. “Queen of the Caribees”, which it earned shaded course. Equestri- It is located near the northern end of the in the 18th century, when its sugar planta- ans and would-be eques- Lesser Antilles archipelago about 350 km tions created much wealth for the British. trians alike, will enjoy east-southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km Nevis is of particular historical sig- horseback riding. west of Antigua. The 93 km² island is part nificance to Americans because it was A race track schedules the birthplace and early horse races on major holi- childhood home of Al- days. exander Hamilton For Dining is a mixed bag the British, Nevis is the with the local delicacies of place where Horatio steamed breadfruit, goat Nelson was stationed as water, grilled lobster and a young sea captain, and fresh fish vying with inter- is where he met and mar- national interpretations at ried a Nevisian, Frances the Plantation Inns. Local Nisbet the young widow musicians with steel pans of a plantation-owner. and string bands alternate The majority of the ap- with jazz groups and a Nevis is special, a place that will seduce proximately 12,000 citi- traveling discotheque to provide entertain- you, and tug at your heart strings after you zens of Nevis are of pri- ing diversions on Nevis. leave. marily African descent. That’s about it for nightlife and visitors Like they say on Nevis: “You’re only a English is the official here wouldn’t have it any other way. Nevis stranger here once.” language, and the litera- attracts hikers, divers and other water sport of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands cy rate, 98 percent, is one of the highest in enthusiasts; however chain of the West Indies. The capital of the Western Hemisphere. the main attractions are Nevis is Charlestown. There’s something about this small, lounging on the beach, Nevis and the island of Saint Kitts to sombrero shaped island that grabs its visi- reading a good book and the northwest form the Federation of Saint tors. The charm and tranquility takes one relaxing. Kitts and Nevis The two islands are sepa- back to a time when things were simpler, The luxury Nevis rated by a shallow two-mile (3.22 km) when life was more peaceful, when stress hotels and plantation channel known as “The Narrows”. Nevis was just a word, not a way of life. inns here attract many a Green and serene, discriminating traveler. Nevis is truly one of the Nevis is a destination of world’s remaining un quiet, laid back charm spoilt places. From the and natural beauty greatly top of the 3,232-foot undisturbed by develop- Nevis Peak to the depths ment. of the clear waters off- shore, there is a world of flora and fauna to be explored. In the hills, the comical green ver- vet monkeys chatter and scamper; in the sea, the whales cruise by. Stroll around and see the archi- tecture of eras gone by: churches, windmills, and is conical in shape with a volcanic peak refurbished Great Houses. known as Nevis Peak at its center. The is- Its 10,000 residents are friendly and land is fringed on its western and northern helpful, ready to make new friends and coastlines by sandy beaches that are com- welcome back regular visitors. The genu- ine charm and hospitality radiate into the unspo- ken, “Welcome,” “Be my guest,” and “Do come again.” Nevisians are a warm people who are rightly very proud of their coun- try. The capitol, Charles- town is still a sleepy mid-Victorian Caribbean town, a far cry from the bustling capital centers of other Caribbean is- lands. Nevis boasts f several beaches hat stretch for miles relatively undis- posed of a mixture of white coral sand with turbed, the longest, being Pinney’s Beach. brown and black sand which was eroded The windward side has a magnificent and and washed down from the volcanic rocks usually deserted beach where visitors can that make up the island. The gently-slop- body surf the breakers. Oualie Beach is the ing coastal plain (0.6 miles/1 km wide) has center for windsurfing, diving and snorkel- natural freshwater springs as well as non- ing with trips to the nearby coral reefs and potable volcanic hot springs especially exotic dive sites. along the western coast. Nevis has natural Activity is limited but worthy on Nevis. vegetation that is unparalleled. Visit the Botanical Gardens with cascad- The name, Nevis, is derived from the ing pools and examples of tropical plants Spanish, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves , from all over the world, play tennis (sev- which means Our Lady of the Snows ; The eral courts available at the various resorts) name first appears on maps in the 16th cen- or play a round of golf at the Four Seasons tury. Nevis is also known by the sobriquet beautiful 18-hole Robert Trent Jones palm PAGE 8 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012

Barbados Beat Drones To Fight Drug Trafficking Almond Buyer

BRIDGETOWN, – More famously known miles currently covered. BRIDGETOWN, Al- for their targeted assassination techniques in This move has reportedly come about be- mond Beach Club will the Middle East, the United States “Preda- cause, while the United States has been op- have new owners next tor drone” technology is now being brought erating several high-tech aircraft in the area, month; and that could into the drug-trafficking fight in the Carib- those flights have apparently failed to fight have implications for the bean. Reports coming out of the US are speed boats and other craft used to smuggle 150 plus staffers at the St that the Department of Homeland Security drugs into the United States. James resort. has been testing its At a standing room unmanned aerial only staff meeting a few vehicles (UAVs) days ago, chaired by over the Bahamas acting chief executive for more than a officer Monty Cumber- year and is ready batch, workers were told to go operational that the hotel would be over areas used by changing hands by July smuggling boats 31 and that their terms in the sea lanes of and conditions would re- the Caribbean and main the same with the Gulf of Mexico. potential buyers, who are ers’ Union’s (BWU) hotel lead negotiator US Customs still to be identified. LeVere Richards, made it clear that current and Border Pro- Cumberbatch, accompanied by Almond staff would be carrying over the years spent tection has report- Resorts Inc. Director of Human Resources with the company and that no one would be edly asked for US$5.8 million in additional However, some skepticism remains as to Marsha Alleyne, Almond Beach Club Di- severed. financing to further push its drone operations whether this new technology will be any rector Gerry Lewis and the Barbados Work- into the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. The more effective. Officials told the LA Times US military is also said to be establishing a the Predator has not proven particularly suc- new control station in Corpus Christi, Texas cessful at detecting small boats on the open this month, a base that will allow Predator sea. drones to perform flights over a larger por- The technology being deployed in moni- Party Problems tion of the Gulf of Mexico; while in Cocoa toring drug trafficking routes over the Ba- Beach, Florida, a single new drone will be hamas border agents reported used a special BRIDGETOWN, The heavy partying and Anderson Connell, president of Party Ani- added to the military’s fleet to monitor water variation of the Predator B UAV known as feteing Barbadians enjoyed during the 2011 malz, said an application to hold his annual over the Caribbean. “The Guardian”. The UAV was equipped Crop Over season may be significantly re- limes at the Boardwalk in Bridgetown on The Los Angeles Times reported that the with a SeaVue radar system that is capable duced this year – and not for financial, plan- Tuesday nights had been turned down by the Department of Homeland Security already of scanning large areas of open water. The ning or religious reasons. It’s simply because Town and Country Planning Department. has nine Predators, most of which are as- Guardian is able to check a ship’s unique ra- party promoters are having problems obtain- “I don’t understand why we were turned signed to the Mexican and Canadian border dio pulse through a database which can iden- ing the necessary licenses to hold the week- down . . . . We held our parties there last areas. Adding the Gulf and Caribbean to the tify the boat’s owner and ship type. day and weekend parties and limes. year and it wasn’t a problem. Now this year patrol area will more than double the square Some party promoters have already been we have been turned down. They said that refused entertainment licenses for the year the Boardwalk is a pedestrian crossing. They – and they are hopping mad! A note circu- want us to submit a plan just like if you are lated to the promoters said: “The limitations submitting a plan for a house and by the time $900 Million Contribution imposed by this new system not only affect that is approved Crop Over would be fin- BRIDGETOWN, The international busi- According to the 2012 BIBA annual re- our businesses but also the social pulse of the ished,” Connell said ness and financial sector says it contributed port, the bulk of the contribution came from island.” just under $900 million to the Barbados salaries and wages, legal fees, hotel ac- economy in 2010. commodation and administrative expenses, According to figures compiled by the which totaled $666.44 million two years ago. Economic Contribution Committee of the More importantly, the BIBA committee Budget Hope Barbados International Business Association revealed that about 4 106 people – mainly (BIBA), even as business dropped as a result professionals – were employed in the sector, BRIDGETOWN, Minister of Finance of the global economic slowdown in 2010, earning some of the highest salaries on the Chris Sinckler was on June 26 scheduled to the sector contributed $878.74 million to the island. (GE) deliver his third and most eagerly anticipated local economy. Budgetary Proposals since being appointed to the position in September 2010 by late Prime Minister David Thompson weeks be- fore his death. With the country still fighting off the ef- fects of a global economic slowdown that has hit hard Barbados’ main trading partners; the eagle eyes of two international rating agen- cies monitoring developments in the coun- try; a hungry Opposition party; and a general Chris Sinckler election looming, what Sinckler delivers will be important on several fronts. consumers. He pointed out that many of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Indus- austere measures in the 2010 Budget had re- try President Lalu Vaswani has asked Sinck- stricted consumer spending and had damp- ler to use whatever methods he has at his ened activity in a consumer-driven economy. disposal to put more money in the hands of Pastor Concerned About Rihanna BRIDGETOWN, Rihanna has been urged He told reporters “A lot of people have to clean up her act, by her former religious been praying for her and hoping that she will mentor. Fears have grown for the Good Girl drop these bad habits.”We feel it’s wrong for Gone Bad star in recent months. her to behave like this. As a young lady she’s Now family friend and Barbados pastor not setting a good example,” he said. Bishop Vibert Lowe says Barbados is “pray- Lowe said young people look to Rihanna ing for” the singer. The 64-year-old clergy- as a mentor, and regard her as an idol and man preached to Rihanna and her family at copy her lifestyle. church every week before she left Barbados “There are people on the island who think for the international stage. she parties way too hard.” June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 9

LIAT Focusing On Safety Antigua Now Under Constant Scrutiny ST. JOHN’S, – LIAT Airlines is reiter- ST JOHN’S, – Com- ating its safety standards for the general menting on the recent life public in the wake of a massive fire that imprisonment of Texan recently destroyed one of its airplanes, a fraudster Allen Stanford, hangar and two office blocks at the VC Antigua Prime Minister Bird International Airport in Antigua. A Baldwin Spencer said the recent media release issued by the regional 110-year jail sentence was airline stressed that LIAT continues to pro- small comfort for Antigua vide regular services throughout its net- and Barbuda. Stanford de- frauded nearly 30,000 in- work two weeks after the fire. aircraft. vestors in 113 countries in Director of Maintenance Alan Alexan- “So there is no inability to continue with a Ponzi scheme involving der stated in the release that the remaining regular maintenance of our aircraft in com- fraudulent high-interest hangar had the capability and ability to pliance with both ECCAA and the manu- certificates of deposit at maintain the airplanes in accordance with facturers requirements,” Alexander added. the Stanford International the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Au- As it relates to maintenance records Bank in Antigua. thority approved maintenance programme. which were destroyed in the fire, the Di- The Prime Minister “We also have ramp maintenance capa- rector of Maintenance said LIAT’s mainte- went on to say that the dis- bilities in Antigua as well as engineering nance records are in fact digitally recorded graced Texan’s legacy had personnel at the Grantley Adams Interna- on a network server. hurt Antigua and Barbuda tional Airport in Barbados and the Piarco “The maintenance records which were Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer in ways that both predated International Airport in Trinidad,” he said. destroyed were hard copy, mainly of a his- and outlived Stanford’s opening of Antigua’s new Inland Revenue “With regards for work normally sched- toric nature, that would not normally have spectacular downfall. building. Spencer further noted: “Despite uled for the hangar lost in the fire, LIAT been referenced on a daily basis to ensure “While this may represent a semblance this fact and the events that have trans- has two Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation continued airworthiness,” Alexander said. of closure for some of the investors who pired since 2009, we still have our detrac- Authority (ECCAA)-approved Mainte- “We are currently working, with assis- lost a combined sum of approximately tors who are full of praise for Mr. Stanford nance and Repair Organizations (MROs) tance from the aircraft and power plant US$7billion, it provides little relief for and still view him as a savior. If only they and workshops outside of the region (in manufacturers, to reconstruct the historical Antigua and Barbuda as we remain under could take their beaks and heads out of the Canada) to do maintenance work on its records,” he added. constant scrutiny,” Spencer noted. sand.” “Our offshore financial services sector Directing a jab at the opposition Antigua has declined significantly as a direct result Labour Party (ALP), the Prime Minister St Lucia Resort Upgrades Its Properties of the Stanford debacle and it will likely said: “Under the stewardship of our prede- SOUFRIERE, - Waiting for a room or suite take some years to recover,” he added. cessors in office, Antigua and Barbuda was at one of St. Lucia’s most alluring properties The Prime Minister was commenting operated as a giant Ponzi scheme and we is about to become easier. Fond Doux Holi- on the matter while delivering the feature can appreciate, therefore, the unqualified day Plantation resort is increasing its capac- address at a ceremony to mark the official affinity of the ALP to R Allen Stanford.” ity by adding five new cottages, which gen- eral manager, Eroline Lamontagne pledged would “retain the same unique architecture as the other 11 cottages on the plantation.” Mrs. Lamontagne, who owns the unique additions will be a little different: “All new accommodations along with her husband cottages are going to be more spacious with Lyton, concurs the recent TripAdvisor Cer- outdoor living day beds and hammocks in the tificate of Excellence recognition received by patios.” Fond Doux is motivation for the expansion. Additional enhancements will be evident “Our recognition as a favorite destination last in the bathrooms which she says will “fea- month is sparking interest in the property as ture outdoor rain forest showers with luxuri- well as enthusiasm to add the new accommo- ous fittings.” dations.” Scheduled to be unveiled by the start of the On the cards are three deluxe one-bedroom winter season in December, the room addi- cottages and two honeymoon cottages with tions will be accompanied by added touches private plunge pools. to the common areas. “We are creating a larg- To retain the old French colonial charm, er and more comfortable lobby and reception Lyton Lamontagne painstakingly moves au- area in the Great Estate house to include a thentic cottages from throughout the island library and Wi-Fi area for our guests. We and lovingly restores them at Fond Doux in are also refurbishing and upgrading our res- Soufrière, St. Lucia’s former capital. taurants and kitchen to accommodate these However, Mrs. Lamontagne reports the changes.” Immigration Award For Grenada NEW YORK, – Grenada’s Immigration that lead to a more effective and respon- Chief believes that the recognition of his sive public administration in countries department for improved delivery of ser- worldwide. vice is a reflection of the potential of the “This award will serve as a flagship for public service in Grenada. The Immigra- the rest of our public servants and civil so- tion and Passport Department of Grenada ciety in Grenada in the way we execute our on June 25 received an award as part of responsibilities,” said Supt. Fleming. the 2012 United Nations Public Service “I also hope that this award will create a Awards at the UN Headquarters in New better synergy between the public service York. and the customers that we are serving in The award was for “Improving the De- Grenada.” livery of Public Services” in Latin America He credits the award to what he de- and the Caribbean region. scribed as a group of committed officers Superintendent Godfrey Fleming re- who go beyond the call of duty, even ceived the award as part of activities mark- working on weekends to ensure that they ing the 10th anniversary of United Nations accomplish targets. Public Service Day and the start of the Supt. Fleming was accompanied by Public Service Forum. Consul General Derrick James and Immi- It rewards the creative achievements and gration officer Cpl. Ron Joseph. contributions of public service institutions PAGE 10 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012 June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 11 PAGE 12 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012

Indian Courtesy Call Forged Documents At Border GEORGETOWN, Acting Min- GEORGETOWN, There have been re- Commissioner General of the GRA, ister of Tourism, Industry and ports of persons submitting forged docu- Khurshid Sattaur has ordered a more care- Commerce, Mr. Irfaan Ali, after ments at the Guyana Suriname border in a ful examination of the documents issued. engaging in discussions with the bid to defraud the tax system. During this In addition a dedicated team comprising recently accredited High Com- year there was a reduction in the amount of customs staff and an officer from the Ber- missioner of India to Guyana, Mr. revenue collected at Corriverton. bice anti-smuggling squad were tasked to Puran Mal Meena, said the two Investigations have revealed that boat review valuation of imports and classifica- countries will be working on a operators were submitting forged customs tion of goods. Law enforcement officers number of initiatives to boost the clearances to Suriname customs officials from Georgetown were deployed to con- tourist industry and advance their in Nickerie. The submission of the cus- duct patrols. relations. toms clearances issued at Corriverton is This is aimed at preventing smuggling The diplomat paid a courtesy one of the requirements for boat owners to activities. The Surinamese authorities have call at the Tourism Ministry on tination. load goods in the Dutch speaking nation. been notified of the issue and are working June 25, when the proposal was put for- He made a proposition, as well, for the In so doing, boat owners who load goods collaboratively with the local authorities ward for India to assist Guyana in making two sides to explore ways of integrating with forged customs clearances, undetect- to combat the illegal practice. Currently, Fort Island a major tourist hub, and devel- their people, and marketing Guyana so that ed by Surinamese officials, do not report to information is shared on a daily basis be- op it into a strong adventure eco-tourism those from India can use Guyana as a place customs at Corriverton with the goods for tween the two countries. This has resulted package. for vacation and a transit point to other the payment of the applicable duties and in more boat owners reporting to Corriver- Minister Ali informed the envoy that countries, like Suriname and Brazil. Guy- taxes. This has resulted in the GRA chang- ton and paying the relevant taxes. Guyana has a lot of historical sites which ana and India will also work on advancing ing the system. are not developed, and the former solicited Guyana’s eco-tourism products, as accord- help from the Indian Government in that ing to Ali, this country has the raw mate- regard. Ali suggested that experts come to rials but needs expertise to build what is Guyana to develop high technology pro- required. Pushing For Instability gramming in recreating the history of Fort About the business aspect, Ali suggested Island, and at the same time facilitate train- that Guyana can be a major call centre, due GEORGETOWN, The government has said that the call is another demonstration ing of Guyanese personnel. to the fact that it is close to North America, accused the main opposition, A Partner- that APNU is “the same old PNC in dis- Guyana will also be looking to promote and is strategically located for such a fea- ship for National Unity (APNU) of “de- guise” and accused the main opposition of more air traffic within the Caribbean, as sible initiative. liberately pushing for instability” after the “creating instability”. the country depends on regional integra- With regard to housing and water, for opposition party threatened to “shut things “No responsible political party, or any tion and movement of people, not only for which he is also responsible, the minister down” in Linden and cut off access to the grouping for that matter will not go to its tourism but for trade as well. lobbied for technical assistance to find mineral-rich interior, if the government supporters and publicly tell them to create Ali requested that India assists in getting new opportunities and new areas that can does not quash its plan to increase the Lin- instability, tell them to cut off access to any investors who are interested in regional be expanded, and create a city outside of den electricity tariff from July 1. area, that is being irresponsible and reck- traffic to establish Guyana as a major des- Georgetown. APNU’s Aubrey Norton and Region 10 less” the official said. Chairman Sharma Solomon told a June The same official is of the view that 23 public meeting in Wismar, Linden that “better sense will prevail”. residents cannot allow the government to “I believe and trust the people of Linden, move forward with the plan since the re- I know better sense will prevail and Lin- gion cannot afford to pay more for elec- deners will reject this call by the APNU, tricity. the people know better” the official said. Responding to these calls, a senior gov- The official also dismissed claims that ernment official said on June 25 that this the recent demonstration by the police with call by APNU is “irresponsible, reckless the water cannon was in preparations for and without merit”. The official who asked possible street protest in Linden over the not to be named since his comments were tariff hike. not officially from the government PR, Intent To Create Unrest GEORGETOWN, THE main opposi- that Lindeners have been able to mobilize tion, A Partnership for National Unity themselves and can shut things down, “we (APNU) has signaled its intentions to cre- can shut things down so I am saying to you ate “unrest” in the mining town of Linden that our actions are not many. Our action and cut off access to the interior, in a bid remains one- our act is that we are not go- to pressure the government into cancelling ing to pay a single cent increase”. its plans to increase electricity rates in the Norton, who pledged to go to Linden town described by members of the opposi- and help to mobilize for a “disciplined tion as “impoverished”. At a June 23 pub- political struggle,” entreated police sup- lic meeting in the mining town, APNU’s port, saying that they were also victims of Aubrey Norton reminded that Linden is government’s maladministration. “In this the gateway to the interior and residents struggle, we will do everything possible with the support of the party will use that to work well with the police. We know to their fullest advantage “We have to be (Home Affairs Minister) Rohee has an ig- prepared to do what is required to achieve norant squad he will send,” he said. our objective. We stand at the gateway to Several years ago, anti-government ac- the interior. I say no more.” tivists had blocked the Mc Kenzie-Wismar Norton called on Lindeners of all ages to Bridge across the Demerara River, pre- join the “struggle” to pressure the Donald venting fuel, food and other supplies from Ramotar administration into abandoning being shuttled into mining operations in the plan of increasing the electricity tariff. huge sections of the interior including the Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Rupununi. Riot police eventually inter- Berbice) Chairman Sharma Solomon said vened and dispersed the crowd. June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 13

Remove GCT On Eggs Busy Signal Pleads Not Guilty KINGSTON, - Opposition Spokesman sider the many poor parents who are suffer- KINGSTON, Popular Jamaican deejay for Agriculture JC Hutchinson has called ing from the GCT pinch. Hutchinson noted Busy Signal, has pleaded not guilty to one on the Government to immediately remove that the cost of a dozen eggs has moved, count of failure to appear in court . Busy the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on in some instances, from $220 to $360 put- Signal, whose real name is Glendale Gor- eggs. In a release to the media Hutchin- ting the product out of reach of the average don, is accused of fleeing the US to avoid a son argued that eggs are a critical source consumer and precipitating what is now drug trial a decade ago for protein for children and adults and is a amounting to a near collapse of Jamaica’s Gordon could face up to five years in staple for most Jamaicans. self-sufficient egg production industry. prison if convicted on that count. He was He said that the Government must con- ordered detained pending his trial. He was charged in February 2002 with two counts related to cocaine trafficking. He fled be- fore his trial was to begin in Minnesota and Busy Signal Teacher Mourned has been a fugitive for the past decade, As- MONTEGO BAY, — Students and staff been “offering support to the students at sistant US Attorney Andrew Dunn, said in tion hearing. of the Harrison Memorial High School in this difficult time.” Willis, who worked court. The cocaine charges still exist, but be- St James have been receiving counseling with Lowe for over 17 years, described the Busy Signal was detained by authori- cause of extradition treaties, any future as they try to come to terms with the bru- deceased as “the kind of teacher that you ties in London last month who suspected prosecution on those counts would have to tal slaying of one of their teachers. Thirty- could ask to do anything.” he was traveling with false documents, be worked out between the Jamaican and seven- year-old Tania Lowe was stabbed to “She taught geography, social studies, including a passport that listed a different US governments. death at her home in Pitfour, on the eve- Spanish and music. We also asked her if name. He was allowed to fly to Kingston, Gordon’s attorney, Bill Mauzy, said in ning of June 23, shortly after she arrived she could work in the library, and she glad- Jamaica, and was arrested at the airport court that the US doesn’t have jurisdiction home from church. Her attacker remains at ly did them all at the same time. She also there. to prosecute Gordon on the drug charges. large. worked part time for a number of years as Gordon waived his right to an extradi- Neighbors reportedly heard loud screams assistant registrar. She was just a very ver- coming from Lowe’s premises and her satile person, always pleasant and so will- body was later found lying in a pool of ing to help in any way she could,” Willis Miss Jamaica World 50 Crowned blood on her lawn with a stab wound to the recalled. left side of her neck. The gruesome murder “Lowe was the kind of teacher that any KINGSTON, Amidst cheers of approv- Robbins said she is looking forward to has left the entire community, the school, school would grab,” she added, emphasiz- al, student Deanna Robbins was crowned representing Jamaica at Miss World and as well the Harrison Seventh-day Adven- ing that Harrison Memorial has suffered a Miss Jamaica World 50 inside the ballroom hopes to add to the Jamaica 50 celebra- tist Church in Catherine Hall, where she great loss. of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in St Andrew tions. worshipped, in mourning. “Parents, students and past students are on June 23. A crowd favorite throughout Earlier in the evening, it was a tight race Vice-Principal at the school, Winsome grief-stricken and devastated. No one can Willis, told local reporters that guidance ever replace Tania; she will be terribly counselors from the Ministry of Educa- missed,” said Willis. The police are yet to tion along with counselors from the Mount establish a motive for the killing. Alvernia and St James High schools had KIA Motors Expanding KINGSTON, - KIA Motors Jamaica has to help increase the Kia brand’s presence signaled its confidence in the local- mar here. ket with the opening of a service centre in “We created a mix of over 30 tempo- Kingston, accompanying further plans to rary and full-time jobs during and after expand its operations on the island. the construction of the service centre,” he “We know that more and more people said. “As we move forward with our other are buying Kia vehicles, and it is time to plans, I’m happy to say that more jobs will bring that trend to Jamaica,” said Ian Lyn, be created.” vice-president of marketing and sales. Though mum on the specific details of the evening’s presentation, the 21-year-old to the finish as all the contestants took to “Kia is positioned for growth, and we will those plans, the company is gearing up seemed shocked when her name was called the stage with poise during the swimwear be capitalizing on the opportunities that to unveil a number of new Kia models to as the new queen edging out 19 other beau- and evening wear segments. They all held exist in the marketplace.” Jamaican motorists next week. These in- ties. Robbins will be representing Jamaica their own during the dreaded interview Toyota Jamaica is still the top seller of clude the Cerato, Sorrento, Optima, and at Miss World in Inner Mongolia, China, segment. automobiles in the country, according to an Sportage. The Sportage and Cerato were on August 18. At the end of the night, second place went Automotive Dealers Association (ADA) among the company’s best-selling models In her first media interview as Miss Ja- to the immensely-popular 24-year-old reg- report on market sales during January and in overseas markets in March. The newly maica World 50, Robbins, still sitting on istered nurse Trishauna Clarke, while the February. Korea-based Kia posted a 13 per built centre is the product of a $30-million the coronation throne, struggled to find the statuesque Rashida Beckford took the third cent-plus year-on-year increase in global investment and will provide technical and words to describe the moment. spot. Shona Bewley was fourth and Lauren sales in March, up from the 216,219 units mechanical servicing to Kia vehicles, as “I’m speechless,” she told reporters, still McKay completed the top 5. sold in the same month last year. well as other brands. The company said the shaking from the mix of nervousness and The Top 10 finalists were completed The company’s Jamaican operations parts and after-purchase care facility is part joy. by Adrianna Bryan, Kelly-Ann Diedrick, will attempt to tap into that level of per- of a larger aim to grab a greater share of the “This has been such a great journey and Chevell Powell, Claudiann Berry and Lau- formance, said Lyn, adding that the cur- Jamaican market. I can see so much growth in myself... I am ren McClure. rent fiscal year will see more investments truly proud of this win,” she continued. PAGE 14 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012

Cabinet Reshuffled Size Doesn’t Matter Port-Of-Spain - Prime Minister Kamla impatient for great achievements, but ever Persad-Bissessar has made good on her May conscious of the correct procedures.” Port-0f-Spain - Size 24 promise to Trinidadians that she was go- The new Cabinet was announced as fol- doesn’t matter Responding ing to carry out a “reconfiguration” of her lows: to concerns about the ex- Cabinet. Minister of National Security - Jack War- pansion of her Government Shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday, June 22, ner, M.P; Minister in the Ministry of Na- as a result of the recent the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister an- tional Security- Collin Partap, M.P; Minister Cabinet reshuffle, Prime nounced her “major shifts in responsibilities of Legal Affairs - Prakash Ramadhar, M.P; Minister Kamla Persad- and portfolios [in order] to get the most out Attorney General -Senator Anand Ram- Bissessar has said: “It is all of the best fit possible”, she read from her logan; Minister of the People and Social well and good to talk about prepared statement. Development - Dr. Glenn Ramadharsingh, numbers and size. But what Her shifts saw the exit of outgoing Minister M.P; Minister in the Ministry of the People is important is that the fo- cus areas of concern to the population are being ad- New over sized cabinet dressed by the reconfigura- tion. shortly after the swearing-in of new min- She defended her decision to increase isters at Knowsley building, Queen’s Park the number of Cabinet ministers in her West, Port of Spain. Government (to 33), making it the largest Questioned on the cost to the taxpayers Cabinet in this country’s history (in addi- of this larger Cabinet, the Prime Minister tion to seven non-Cabinet ministers), and said: “There are so many issues to deal bigger than the Cabinets of countries such with. I do believe the composition of the as China (which has 27 members) and the Cabinet as it stands is better poised for United States (23) with massive popula- greater delivery, greater performance and tions. She was speaking with reporters implementation.” Drunk Driver Kills Five Port-Of-Spain – A 24-year-old Trinidadian anarayana Uppalapati first pronounced two Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been discharged from hospital into police people dead and then, when the vehicle was custody after ploughing into a Caura bar and pulled away from the extensively damaged of National Security, Brigg John Sandy; out- and Social Development - Vernella Alleyne- killing five people on June 19. The man, who bar by a wrecker, three more bodies were dis- going Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Toppin, M.P; Minister of Education - Dr. Tim reportedly failed a breathalyzer test about an covered crushed below it. All three were also Development, Verna St. Rose-Greaves; and Gopeesingh, M.P; Minister of Housing- Dr. hour after the accident, now faces charges of pronounced dead by the DMO. Three other outgoing Minister of Tobago Development, Roodal Moonilal, M.P; Minister of Gender, drunk driving and motor manslaughter. Dead people injured in the bloodbath were taken to Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, who leaves Cabi- Youth and Child Development - Marlene are Shayaz Khan, 25, of #8 McKenzie Street, the Arima Health Facility for treatment. Ake- net to become a junior minister in the Min- Coudray; Minister of Justice- Herbert Vol- Frederick Settlement, Caroni, and his moth- la Alleyne, 19, suffered a broken hip, while istry of the People and Social Development. ney, M.P; Minister of Public Administration - er Christine Khan, 51, of the same address; Anika Small and Ian Joseph were treated and The high profile former Minister of Finance Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, M.P; Minister of Arun Ajay, 22, of #26 Peas Street, Caura discharged. The driver complained to the Winston Dookeran has also now been trans- Energy - Senator Kevin Ramnarine; Minister Road, El Dorado; Harrilal Mongroo, 30, of police of serious pains and was taken to the ferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. of Labour & Small & Micro Enterprise Dev’t #54 Maraj Street, Five Rivers, Arouca, and Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex Persad-Bissessar also introduced a few - Errol McLeod,M.P; Minister of Transport Shiva Bharat, 28, of St Joseph. (EWMSC) for treatment. He was treated for “new faces” into her Cabinet. New to the - Chandresh Sharma,M.P; Minister of Sport Autopsies were subsequently conducted at minor injuries. Owner of Palance Bar, Ra- government are former Member of Parlia- - Anil Roberts, M.P; Minister of Planning- the Forensic Science Centre in St James. mesh Sookraj, was on the premises when the ment Ganga Singh as the new Minister of Sen. Dr. Bhoendradatt Tiwarie; Minister of The carnage reportedly unfolded at around accident occurred. Environment and Water Resources, and Lar- Public Utilities- Nizam Baksh, M.P; Min- 5:30am shortly after the man, driving his “Careless and reckless driving cause in- ry Hawai, is now the Minister of Finance and ister of Tobago Development - Dr.Delmon cousin’s Nissan Almera, left a bar on the nocent people to lose their lives. The man the Economy. Baker, M.P; Minister of Local Government Eastern Main Road with four passengers: his coming up the road is either he sleep away The Prime Minister defended her chang- - Dr.Surujrattan Rambachan,M.P; Minister brother, a male friend and two young women. or he couldn’t control the speed of the car. es by saying: “as I see it, the government in the Ministry of Local Government - Ru- According to police, the driver was proceed- He ran into the bar from the end of the cul- has two choices, we can pat ourselves on dranath Indarsingh,M.P; Minister of Works ing east along the Eastern Main Road when vert and lick down everybody,” Sookraj told the back and say under the circumstances, and Infrastructure- Sen. Emmanuel George; he pulled to his right at Caura Junction to the press. Sookraj went on to say that he was ‘well done’, or we can look at all we did not Minister in the Ministry of Works and Infra- avoid colliding with another vehicle, a white surprised that the driver came out “without a achieve, we can choose instead to listen to structure - Stacy Roopnarine,M.P; Minister Corolla, which was exiting Caura Royal scratch” and proceeded to tell him that he did those who are not satisfied, we can measure of the Arts and Multiculturalism- Dr. Lincoln Road. The Nissan went on to strike a traffic not have to worry about the damage and that the way forward by looking at areas where Douglas,M.P; Minister of Health- Dr.Fuad light pole and then ran into the five victims he would “fix everything”. we have gone wrong or not done enough, we Khan M.P; Minister of State in the Office of outside the Palance Bar, which is located on He added that the driver was not even con- can reassess approaches and strategies, im- the Prime Minister- Rodger Samuel, M.P; the southern side of Caura Junction. cerned or maybe unaware that he had just proving upon everything in every way pos- Minister of Tertiary Education - Senator District Medical Officer (DMO) Saty- killed five people. sible. We can choose to work harder, to do Fazal Karim; Minister of Tourism - Stephen more, and to be urged on by the criticisms Cadiz,M.P; Minister of Community Develop- even as we are inspired by the congratula- ment- Winston Peters,M.P; Minister of Food Mother Of 4 Jailed tions.” Production- Sen.Devant Maharaj; Minister Port-Of-Spain, A single mother of four, occasioning actual bodily harm was read in She acknowledged that her reshuffle of State in the Ministry of Food Production - who admitted in court o burning the hand of court. The maximum penalty for the offence would likely meet criticism, noting that: “the Jairam Seemungal, MP; Minister of Science her eight-year-old daughter, has been sent to is five years in prison. reconfiguration of my Cabinet will meet with & Technology- Dr.Rupert Griffith; Minister prison for three years. According to the charge, on June 16, at reviews from all over and everyone will have of Foreign Affairs - Winston Dookeran, M.P; Kamla Ramcharan, 29, was given the sen- Ramcharan’s Railway Road, Longdenville their say one way or the other. I ask one thing Minister of Trade, Industry & Investment tence despite an appeal by her attorney who home, Ramcharan held the child’s hand on of every consideration made and that is to - Sen.Vasant Bharath; Minister of the Envi- said his client was struggling to make ends a hot tawah, a circular flat iron skillet used acknowledge what change is possible from ronment & Water Resources- Ganga Singh; meet without the help of the father, and had to make roti. within us all.” Minister of State in the Ministry of Environ- burned the child because she had allegedly The court prosecutor, Sgt Jackman, said However, she charged her newly reconfig- ment & Water Resources- Ramona Ramdial, stolen money at school for a third time. a teacher at the Montrose Vedic Primary ured Cabinet ministers, who she called her M.P; Minister of National Diversity & Social However, in imposing the prison term, Ch- School had called Ramcharan from the Mon- “performance team”, to “deliver a level of Integration - Clifton De Coteau; Minster in aguanas Magistrate Gillian David-Scotland trose Vedic School and informed her that competence and performance for an impa- the Ministry of National Diversity & Social told the woman: “That is a heinous way to the child had allegedly stolen money from a tient and expectant population”, adding that: Integration - Senator Embau Moheni; Minis- punish a child. This child you give birth to, classmate. He said Ramcharan later went to “I have been very clear on what is required of ter of Communication - Jamal Mohammed; this child is innocent. She did not ask to come the school and took her daughter home. each member of the new Cabinet”. Minister of Finance & The Economy (with here. What interactions you have with her fa- In a statement given to police by Ram- She urged them to accept no mediocrity or responsibility for Caribbean Airlines) - Larry ther have nothing to do with the child.” charan, the mother said the girl denied steal- arrogance, while adhering to “a leadership Howai; Deputy Speaker - Nela Khan,M.P Ramcharan, wept as the charge of assault ing money. style that is firm, but humble, passionate and June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 15 Belly Bustas Take 2: Birthday Gift

A fellow was very much in love with a the next morning. beautiful girl. One day she told him that As the florist was preparing the order, the next day was her birthday. He told her he decided that since the young man was he would send her a bouquet of roses... such a good customer, he would put an ex- one for each year of her life. tra dozen roses in the bouquet. That evening he called the local florist He never did find out why she suddenly and ordered twenty-one roses with in- refused to ever see him again.. structions that they be delivered first thing PAGE 16 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012 Home Affairs Contracts

According to the the common intention ing the person is locked into a room and monetary compensation or what is com- dictionary, a contract must be to create a le- the product is displayed, they are not given monly referred to as “damages”. In some is: gal obligation. Third- a gift nor are they allowed to leave until cases money will not suffice. For instance, “An agreement be- Selwyn R. ly, in order to be valid, they have agreed to buy the product, which assume you are in the market to buy an tween two or more something of value is aggressively marketed by sales people. exotic car; you have a collection of such persons which creates Baboolal must move from one In such cases one may feel constrained or cars but not a Porsche 959. You locate one an obligation to do or party to the next. The compelled to sign on the dotted line. If you and enter into an agreement to purchaser it. not to do a particular Courts refer to this find yourself in this position, this contract You pay a deposit but before delivery, the thing” something of value as “consideration”. It may be questionable, so it might be advis- seller changes his mind. In such a case, the In order for the agreement to be valid is important to note that the consideration able to see a lawyer. Court can order the seller to complete the and enforceable, there are some prerequi- or thing of value need not necessarily be Does a contract have to be in writing to transaction and sell you the car. sites. Firstly, the parties entering into the money. The Courts have recognized and be valid? It is a common misconception agreement must be over the age of major- stipulated that the consideration or thing of that a contract must be in writing in order Selwyn R. Baboolal in a partner at Ou- ity. In other words, the law recognizes that value can be something as small as a lol- to be valid. Oral contracts are valid and marally Baboolal practicing in the area of minors would not be competent to form lipop. enforceable. For obvious reasons a written litigation for the past 18 years. binding legal obligations. Secondly, the Finally, in order to create a valid contract, contract is easier to prove in a Court in the parties entering into the agreement must the parties must enter into the agreement event of a dispute. Furthermore, a written This is intended for information purpos- have what is commonly referred to as “a voluntarily. A common example where contract will leave less room for confusion es only and you should consult a lawyer if meeting of the minds”. Essentially, the voluntariness would be lacking is where and ambiguity. you need legal representatation or a legal parties must have a common intention with indivuals are invited to a sales seminar and In the event that one party breaches a opinion. respect to the subject matter. Furthermore, promised a gift for attending. Upon attend- contract the other party’s remedy is to seek Your Mortgage Health Check

Your home is your most important investment and you will want to do everything you Choose a shorter can to make it the best. Consider this your home oil change to do every 6 months to 1 amortization period - year. Similar to a physical, take a look at the checklist below and the more of these steps Another way to reduce you can check off, the better your mortgage health will be. the total interest you pay is to reduce your amor- Accelerate your mortgage payments - For many of us, mortgage payments represent tization (the length of our largest monthly expense and making your payments more frequently (bi-weekly as time it takes to pay off opposed to monthly) can reduce interest costs over the long term. the mortgage). Select- ing a shorter amortiza- tion (20 years instead of 30, for example) will mean higher monthly payments but could save you thousands in interest costs over the life of the mortgage.

Take advantage of mortgage pre-payments. - Many mortgages offer prepayment privileges, allowing you to pay up to 20% of the original value of the mortgage each year. This money goes directly to reducing the principal, which can also lead to large savings over the life of the mortgage.

Make a lump-sum payment when you renew -This can lead to greater savings on interest charges over the life of your mortgage.

You may be thinking of refinancing or be up for renewal. First, you may want to consider what your short-term plans are? If your mortgage is coming up for renewal and you are thinking of moving shortly afterwards, an open mortgage can give you the flexibility you need. An open mortgage may also be a good idea if you will be coming into a lump sum that can be used to pay down your mortgage (ex. Sale of assets, inheritance, bonus).

Consider a blended-rate renewal - If your existing mortgage rate is higher than cur- rent rates, you could save money with a blended rate. A blended renewal or “blend and extend” extends your mortgage beyond your existing term at a rate that averages what you are paying now with current mortgage interest rates.

Factor in potential costs when refinancing - If your mortgage is closed (that is, you cannot pay it ahead of schedule), you may face a penalty when you renegotiate. How- ever, it may still be worthwhile to refinance. The key is to determine whether the savings in interest costs outweigh the penalty. That’s why it’s important to think of the longer- term benefits in the form of total interest savings.

Use your home equity to borrow at more attractive rates - The equity you have built in your home can be a valuable source of financing allowing you to borrow at better rates. You can borrow against the equity in your home to pay for your child’s education, purchase an investment, pay for large-scale home renovations or buy an income property.

Check your insurance - If you have a family (and especially if you are the sole bread- winner), credit protection can give you the peace of mind of knowing that your family’s mortgage payments will be covered. If you purchased your home more than five years ago, check to be sure that your property protection is still sufficient.

Having a healthy mortgage and assessing your financial goals will only lead to success and a better financial outlook. Take a few minutes and complete your Mortgage Health Check.

*The information in this article is not intended as specific investment, financial, ac- counting, legal or tax advice for any individual. June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 17 Women’s World - Beauty Hairstyling Made Easy

There are tricks to every trade and hair- styling is no exception. Many women find themselves falling into a rut with regard to their hair styles because they think many of the looks that are popular today are too dif- ficult to manage. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here are some of the com- mon “looks” in hair fashion today, and the The Half-Up Hairstyle tricks to getting them perfect. The ‘do that’s kept women looking stylish for decades without giving them a hair headache combed through to give that glossy look to the ends.

Sculpted Curl Sometimes you want a style that has something a little different to it. You want a clean, sleek look, but you don’t want the same old “slicked back” look. Well, try a finger wave, or sculpted curl, to make the look more exciting. Treat the hair as if you are planning to create the slicked back look. Once the styl- ing gel has been applied, use your fingers and a comb to form curves and ridges in the hair. Allow the hair to set (meaning dry) and use a comb to break the gel and soften the look of the hair. The result is a look that is clean and tidy, and visually in- teresting. Dreadlocks, Cool and beautiful—what’s not to love? If you are still short of ideas you can al- hair with the fingers. Comb the hair with a to redefine the curls. Straight hair can be ways copy straight t from some celebrities wide-tooth comb first to ensure there are no misted with a touch of shine enhancer and whose hairstyles have become iconic: tangles, then switch to finer toothed combs Halle Berry’s Spiky Pixie Haircut to further smooth and define the styling. There have been other every-which-way Big Volume haircuts before and since, but none quite Whether your hair is a medusa’s nest of this amazing snaky curls or sleek and straight, you can pump up the volume in your hair by ap- Slicked Back proaching the problem upside down. That’s To get a smooth finish to the “slicked right, after shampooing and conditioning, back” look, the secret is to rinse the hair apply some styling gel to the scalp ends of

The High Bun A classic style that was reinvigorated in the ’00s Subtle Layers Cutting hair in gently cascading tiers the hair and massage it through the hair to breaks up a mass of hair and gives lift and distribute it. Comb through the hair with a bounce wide-tooth comb to evenly distribute the product then flip your head over. with warm water (as hot as can be toler- Dry the hair using your blow dryer on ated) for a few minutes prior to applying low heat setting or with a diffuser attach- the styling product. The application of heat ment. Start at the scalp and be sure to hold and moisture will break the physical side the hair out from the head to get maximum bonds in the hair and allow it to be combed lift at the root ends of the hair. Continue to smooth and flat. All but the curliest of hair dry the remaining length of the hair until can be made to lie smooth and straight the hair is halfway dry along the shaft, at along the curve of the scalp. which point you can upright your head and finish drying the hair as desired. The styling product should be applied If you have curly hair you may need to – use a strong hold styling gel for maxi- lightly mist the hair with a styling spritz, mum control – and massage it through the spray gel or hair spray and scrunch the hair PAGE 18 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012 Sports Beat Phillip Retains Grand Prix Crown Blazing Bledman Ace Trinidad and Tobago cyclist Njisane Phillip retained the US Grand Prix of Sprinting match sprint crown on June 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo- rado, after a blistering perfor- mance. Phillip pedaled to a new national and Pan Ameri- can record in the Flying 200 metres event, clocking 9.775, the fourth best time overall as three Germans—Robert For- stemann, Stefan Nimke, and Rene Enders in that order—all eclipsed the time. Forstemann’s winning time was 9.652. However, Phillip was the overall winner, repeating his victory of a year ago. The three Germans pulled out of the late rounds of the competition. To get to the quarter-final, Phillip defeated another Ger- Keston Bledman man, Robert Kantner, in the second round. Keston Bledman won his first senior na- time Trinidad and Tobago performance Phillip also teamed up with tional sprint title in style, bolting to victory list, with quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Americans Gideon Massey and in a personal best 9.86 seconds at the June Boldon. Thompson is in the number one TJ Mathieson to finish third in 22 Championships held Hasely Crawford spot with his 9.85 seconds national record. 1:02.100 in the team sprint Stadium in Port of Spain. event, while the T&T trio of Njisane Phillip At the halfway mark, “Blazing Bled- Kelly-Ann Baptiste whipped the T&T Quincy Alexander, Haseem man” was in charge, motoring to the line young brigade in the women’s 100m final. McLean and Justin Roberts for a commanding victory in the NAAA The World Championship bronze med- combined for seventh place of junior Flying 200 record with his 10.429 Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and allist separated herself from the field early nine teams with a 1:03.480 clocking. time, while Alexander, in his first season Field Championship men’s 100 metres fi- in the race, and by the halfway stage was During the competition, which started as a senior rider, clocked a personal best nal. in full control. Baptiste went on to win Friday, Roberts broke Phillip’s national 10.345 in the same event Richard “Torpedo” Thompson did not in 10.98 seconds, finishing well ahead of achieve his beaver-trick goal, but had the Semoy Hackett, the silver medallist in satisfaction of getting home in an impres- 11.14, Kai Selvon (11.24) and Michelle- sive 9.96 seconds to seize silver. Lee Ahye (11.29). Rondel Sorrillo clocked a new personal record (PR), 10.03, to claim bronze, ahead A strong finish from Lalonde Gordon of Marc Burns (10.06), Emmanuel Cal- earned the 23-year-old athlete gold in the lender (10.12), Jamol James (10.17), Dar- men’s 400m. Gordon clocked 45.40 sec- rel Brown (10.27) and Aaron Armstrong onds to grab the title from Renny Quow, (10.51). the 2011 champion finishing second in Bledman had sounded a warning ahead 45.60. Third spot went to 19-year-old of the final with a speedy victory in the Deon Lendore (45.74). second semifinal, clocking 10.04 seconds Jarrin Solomon (45.88) copped fourth to beat Sorrillo (10.11) into second spot. spot, and 17-year-old Machel Cedenio After the championship race, Bledman finished fifth in a personal best 46.02 told reporters he is extremely satisfied with seconds--a new national youth (under-18) his performance. record. “I’m just thanking the Lord for coming Lendore, in lane three, made the early out injury free. I’m very, very, very happy running in the one-lap final, quickly mak- with the time. My fans came so I had to ing up the stagger on Quow, in four. But give them a show. Quow stepped up a gear in the second half “No disrespect to (Usain) Bolt, (Yohan) of the race, catching Lendore about 60 me- Blake, my training Tyson Gay, but when tres from home. I go to the Olympics, I’m going to win. I Gordon, though, was strongest in the dy- ain’t going there to play around. I have at ing stages, surging past the pair and thrust- least 9.7 in me.” ing an arm in the air to celebrate his first Bledman is now joint-second on the all- national title. June 27, 2012 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC PAGE 19

Lessons From An English Tour Uncapped Badree Picked For Kiwi T20s West Indies have picked uncapped legs- pinner Samuel Badree in their squad for the Adrian Barath and Darren Powell are two Twenty20 matches against New Zealand the two most suited by talent to join in Lauderhill, Florida on June 30 and July 1. him. Their competition amongst each Darren Bravo hasn’t been selected after he Tony other as to who should be chosen will returned to the West Indies from the tour of be very healthy for West Indies cricket. England due to a groin strain. Also missing McWatt Almost a throwback to the days when are seamer Tino Best and allrounder Andre Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran Russell, who picked up an injury during the were competing with each other for first ODI against England at the Rose Bowl. So the West Indies have completed number three spot in West Indies bat- Badree, 31, who plays for Trinidad and To- yet another unsuccessful tour of Eng- ting order. bago, has played 12 first-class games, taking 14 wickets at 37.50 in a career that started land, losing both the Test and One Day The other two very obvious lessons International Series to their hosts. As ten years ago. He has done better in one-day to have emerged from the England Tour cricket, with 32 wickets at 26.31, and has an bitter as those defeats would have been, both involve West Indies current captain excellent T20 record. In the 41 T20s Badree the tour has provided some useful les- Darren Sammy. The first of these is the has played, he has collected 39 wickets at sons for the West Indies, in its continu- harsh reality that the West Indies simply 15.61 with an economy-rate of just 4.42. ous quest to regain some semblance of will never win Test matches against any Badree was successful in the Caribbean Samuel Badree its former glory as a respected cricket- of the top ranked teams such as Austra- T20, picking up eight wickets in six games and the selectors felt it was the right time to ing entity. lia, England, India, South Africa and at 11.87 and going for just 4.31 an over. In introduce him to the team.” The first of those lessons would have even Pakistan, as long as their bowling the final, which T&T won, he conceded just West Indies were due to leave for the Unit- been the folly of exposing such an in- is based on a four man attack of which 14 in his four-over spell, taking one wicket. ed States from the UK on Monday. The two experienced to order as Adrian Barath, Sammy is the third pacer. “The team is well-balanced and has been T20s in Florida are followed by five ODIs Darren Powell, Kirk Edwards and Dar- At Test Cricket’s highest levels, Sam- selected with the Twenty20 World Cup in and two Tests in the Caribbean. ren Bravo to an English pace attack as my’s medium paced dibbly dobblies mind,” West Indies’ chief selector Clyde West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), seasoned as Messrs Anderson, Broad simply aren’t penetrative enough to Butts said. “Looking at the team, we expect Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson this side to do very well against New Zea- and Bresnan in conditions so favor- do anything more than pick up the odd Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sunil land, as our preparation for the World Cup Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, able to the latter. That was almost as wicket here and there. As a bowler in continues. Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Sim- suicidal as it was foolhardy as reflected Tests he has now taken 70 wickets from “Badree has been a consistent performer in mons, Dwayne Smith. in the West Indies early loss of wickets 27 matches, at an average of 32.40. regional tournaments over a period of time throughout the Test Series. Kirk Ed- That’s just slightly over two wickets per wards in particular was completely out Test and one per innings. of his league and eventually had to be Taken to their logical conclusion mercifully dropped for the 3rd Test. those statistics signify that ff the West The West Indies would have been far Indies were to be dependent upon Sam- better served having the experience of my alone to take all twenty-wickets re- a Chris Gayle or Ramnaresh Sarwan quired to win Test matches, they would at the top of the order. The presence only do so after the opposition had of either or both would have provided scored 320 runs in each innings or 640 obviously needed guidance to the very in the match! talented but wantonly inexperienced With the bat Sammy, despite his ever youngsters, Barath, Powell and Bravo. so lucky, swiping century during the Admittedly Gayle’s IPL commit- 2nd Test, still averages only 21.39 so ments eventually rendered him unavail- even his status as an all-rounder is du- able for at the least the first two Tests. bious at best. Sarwan however was otherwise occu- To my mind Jerome Taylor, whose pied, scoring runs at will for Leicester- 82 Test wickets in the 29 matches he’s shire. In the very same conditions that played to date have included a best of his less experienced fellow West Indi- 5/11 against England, should be the ans were finding so difficult to adjust to. rightful occupant of the third pacer spot Such is very sad politics of West In- behind Kemar Roach and Ravi Ram- dies cricket today, that the appreciation paul. Those three backed up by any one of the value that Sarwan’s experience of Shane Shillingford, Sunil Naraine, would have brought to the team at the Davendra Bishoo or Sulieman Benn, top of the order, was completely lost on as the front line spinner, would consti- the selectors. So it was left to Marlon tute a bowling attack with a reasonable Samuels and Shiv Chanderpaul to con- chance of bowling opposing teams out stantly have to try to repair the damage twice in a Test. done to the West Indies cause by the in- Sadly, the second inescapable lesson evitable loss of early wickets. to have emerged from England is that as The loss of the Series proved how long as Sammy remains guaranteed an impossible a task that was. The West automatic pick as captain, the West In- Indies can however at least be thankful dies will again never win Test matches for Samuel’s long awaited emergence against quality opponents. Not unless as a reliable middle order batsman. there’s the aberration of a bad wicket or His batting throughout the Series was poor umpiring. That’s the harshest les- a joy to behold. With him now settled son to have emerged from the English at number six, Chanderpaul at five and tour. Bravo’s obvious if yet unfulfilled talent With Sammy’s St Lucian connections still warranting tenure of the number still entrenched at the helm of West In- four spot, the West Indies at last have a dies Cricket, in the personalities of the settled middle order. Board’s President and its CEO, it’s a Chris Gayle’s much welcomed reso- lesson that seems likely to remain un- lution of his longstanding differences heeded until God knows when. As long and disputes with the West Indies as it does, fans like me will continue to Cricket Board, has allowed for his fu- suffer in abject frustration. ture availability at the top of the order. Long live nepotism. PAGE 20 CARIBBEAN GRAPHIC June 27, 2012