Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Ria Ramnarine is
first Indo-Caribbean
world boxing
Indo-Caribbean It’s the real
thing: Temple
karate at the
champion Vedic Cultural
Page 11 Centre Page 15
416-289-3898 ictimes@rogers.com Vol 1. No 1 MARCH 2007
NEW GUYANA
STADIUM READY
FOR WORLD CUP
The eyes of the sporting
world will be fixed on that
green oval when the
Caribbean hosts its first
ever Cricket World Cup.
See SPORTS Page 21
I LOVE WINTER!
Celebrate the season is
this youngster’s message
at recent winter festivities
in Scabrorough.
See HEALTH AND
WELLNESS Page 16
Kidnap horror: Lawyer reveals gang rape of Indian women, police involvement
Trinidad human rights lawyer Anand her about her experience: was actually taking her to detain her. BRUTALIZED ALL NIGHT
Ramlogan has shocked the country and the Kidnapping is so organised. There are Team D separately contacted the family
world with sensational newspaper columns several groups involved, with each one per- to negotiate the ransom. Team E visited the She fell asleep, but was awakened by a
on the treatment of kidnap victims. The forming a specific family in full religious wear to say that its hand on her leg. She slapped it off and col-
country is stunned by the unbelievably vi- duty. organisation could find her for a fee, and lected a slap. Wide awake, she looked up
cious and barbaric details, especially those Team A, the abduc- that the police were a waste, because they and saw all three of her guards, dressed in
showing the sexual brutality shown to In- tion team, snatched the were probably in cahoots with team D. their briefs alone, staring at her.
dian women. Their lives have been de- victim. Team A handed Whom do you trust? Negotiation calls are She struggled, but was overpowered, and
stroyed, their families broken. her over to Team B made to distant friends to evade tapped tele- they took turns raping her. They had their
Ramlogan (the transportation phone lines. way all night, invading and brutalising her
These are Anand’s stories of two Indian
women who have gone through a kidnap- team) at an undisclosed location that was Whilst in captivity, one of her guards (X) while their fantasies “and her worst night-
ping (one a victim and the the other a only made known to it after a few calls tried to reassure her that everything would mare” became a reality.
mother), first published in the Trinidad from someone who gave careful,specific di- be all right; once the ransom was paid she At some point, her body became numb
Guardian. rections. would be released unharmed. and lifeless, paralysed by the assault and
Team A did not know where Team B was She cried constantly and could not eat. humiliation. The next morning she was
KIDNAPPED FOR LIFE,
taking her, just in case the police managed After three days, she became weak. kicked and told to “wash off properly.”
to arrest anyone from Team A. She decided to keep herself alive because She heard them discussing the possibil-
LIVING IN HELL Team B was responsible for transporting she was able to hear her husband’s voice on ity of testing for DNA with sperm and me-
the victim to the hiding spot and handing the cellphone and he told her he was going chanically washed in front of them.
“I was stripped of all my dignity,” she said her over to Team C (the guard team), which to pay the ransom. She could not cry anymore. She had
quietly. Hands covering her face, she re- was responsible for taking her to the place Hope and tears mingled freely in her probably run out of tears.
counted the details of her kidnapping. where she would be imprisoned until bosom. Later that night, the guards changed
DUCKY’S
She had come to see me, because she read negotiations for payment of a ransom were shift. A new set of men came. They played (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5)
my columns and felt that Iwould understand successfully concluded. cards and drank heavily.
and “feel” her pain. She wanted to tell me Team B did not know where Team C
INDIA IN SUMMER
puter age and within weeks will be
hitting the keyboards and surfing the In-
ternet.
The computer literacy program, which
is financed by a $25,000 "New Hori-
zons for Seniors" grant, was launched
at the last meeting of the group in Janu-
ary by President Farouk Hydal and
computer trainer Anthony Mohammed. Farouk Hydal (left) and P.R.O. Rasheed
.It will run throughout 2007, and will in- Sultan Khan discuss computer training
clude developing a training manual, starting a website and online newsletter, and deliver-
ing a series of training workshops for interested seniors.
President Hydal explained that the program came out of a recent survey which asked
50 Plus members what they wanted most. Learning computers was at the top of the list, Get ready for a massive Festival of India
as the seniors said they did not want to be left out of the computer age. They want to con-
tact their friends and relatives by e-mail, read about Trinidad and the world on the inter-
on August 24-26 this summer, as the Cana- $799 FLIGHT TO TRINIDAD,
dian Museum of Hindu Civilization show-
net, and do things like banking, buying airplane tickets and shopping on the internet like $1109 TO GUYANA IN MARCH
cases the many attractions of India old and
so many other Canadians. new.
The program will see members teaching and mentoring each other in the use of com- The museum, which was opened in 2004, The new Caribbean Airlines (formerly
puters, as well as producing their newsletter and updating their website. They will become and remains the only one of its kind in BWIA) is offering fares of $799.04 Cana-
empowered to use computers to research health matters, and exchange information on art North America, expects 10,000 people per dian for a one week, five hour trip from
and culture of the Caribbean and Canada. Hydal said it was most important that seniors day to converge on the museum at 8640 Toronto to Trinidad in the first week of
be able to relate to children and grandchildren who are very involved with computers in Yonge Street, Richmond Hill for the event. March, which is better than Air Canada's
their school and home lives. “This festival will provide a place for peo- $936 for a similar trip. To head to Guyana
The computer literacy program will continue alongside the 50 Plus regular activities like ple of Ontario to embrace diversity, learn for one week at the same time will cost
monthly gatherings, bus trips, participation in events like Black History Month, Trinifest, more about people of India and their rich $1109.43 for a nine hour flight that includes
Indian Arrival Day, summer picnics and cultural programs. For information contact cultural heritage. It will bring awareness a stopover in Trinidad. Trips from the USA
Farouk Hydal at 905-608-0239 or Public Relations Officer Rasheed Sultan Khan at 416- about puppetry and folk dances that are at to the Caribbean are coming in at com-
281-5264 its verge of extinction,” said an official. petive prices as well.
Attractions include: This is good news for Caribbeans based
Ayurveda and Health Care in North America, who have been seeing
Yoga and meditation scary prices of as much as $1300 to
Morning Lecture series (spiritual Dis- Trinidad and $1500 recently. Several have
course) complained that air flights to the Caribbean
Evening Concerts (classical music and were more expensive than trips to India
Dance by Indian maestros more than four times as distant. Toronto
Bollywood Night with renowned playback travel agencies have offered flights to India
singer for as low as $1100.
Astrology & Palmistry Caribbean Airlines is the airline born out
Artist’s Village (sculptors and Painters) of the corpse of the old unprofitable BWIA,
Ethnic Food stalls (promoting Vegetarian- which was shut down on December 31 and
ism – the higher taste) all employees laid off. Check then out at
Kaleidoscopic Folk Dances and songs www.caribbean-airlines.com
Puppetry Giving good competition is the new
Fashion show (traditional Costumes of Guyana based airline Travel Span, which
Much needed indocaribbeanheritage.com web each state and its music) flies from Guyana and Trinidad to the
United States. They are offering flights
site for Indo-Caribbeans goes online
Outstanding Indian movies and Documen-
tary films (AV theatre of the campus) from JFK Airport in New York to Trinidad
Indian books for $553.41 Canadian , and $681.12 for
LOCATING information on Indo- arrival is held next year. Indian God, Goddesses and Temple rituals flights from JFK to Guyana, also in the first
Caribbeans in Canada and our heritage has With 62 articles and over 160 photographs, Gift stalls (Accessories, Garments, sou- week of March. Travel Span doesn’t yet fly
always been an exercise in frustration. The including the best selection of pictures of venirs, Jewelry, incense and other para- directly to Canada and they are expected to
libraries and bookstores have little or noth- indentured Indians on the web, the site is phernalia) operate only during the winter tourist sea-
ing. There is no Indo-Caribbean Historical moving towards the goal of being “every- Sari wrapping Demonstration son.
Society. The internet has scattered pieces of thing you wanted to know about Indo- Children’s Theatre Canadian based travellers can get over the
varying quality and age. Caribbeans” Handicrafts lack of direct flights by making a short
That’s about to change with the launch of The group is looking for help in putting to- Exhibition on Various religions, Vedic flight to JFK from across the border in Buf-
a community web site aimed directly at the gether a virtual library of documents, audio Science, History of Hinduism, Indian ar- falo, just two hours drive away. Jet Blue
200,000 strong Indo-Caribbean community and video on the Indo-Caribbean experi- chitecture etc will be in Museum. will cost you $91.07 Canadian to fly to JFK
and all who want to know about it. ence, especially in Canada. When com- To offset the significant costs of the Fes- in the first week of March and $81.60 to fly
indocaribbeanheritage.com is the cre- pleted, the site will offer articles and tival of India, the Museum is seeking cor- back from JFK to Buffalo one week later.
ation of a group of Indo-Caribbean activists pictures on the early settlement of Indo- porate and community sponsors from the Add about $50 for the bus trip from
from Southern Ontario who decided last Caribbeans in Canada, where our commu- Canadian community. For further call Ms Toronto to Buffalo or slightly less for one
year to do something about the lack of in- nity lives today, the names and activities of Betty Bharratt at (416) 825-5170 and help week’s parking at Buffalo Airport, and it
formation on the community. Since South our religious, cultural, social and commu- bring off a once-in-a-lifetime Festival of comes close to the Caribbean Airlines di-
Asian Heritage Indian Month last year, nity groups. They will be able to locate cul- India in Canada. rect trips to the Caribbean. Look up Travel
they have been putting together a free tural performers, professionals and business Span at www.travelspan.com.
community web site to fill the need. people, and learn about our community
It offers information on three broad areas, achievers and how we are handling the
the history of our people in over 12 problems of developing a community in
Caribbean countries, the Indo-Caribbean Canada.
heritage that was preserved and developed There will also be a large section on the
over 160 years since 1838 when Indians cultural heritage that Indo-Caribbeans
first landed in the area, and a section on worked so hard to preserve in the Caribbean
Indo-Caribbeans in Canada from 1908 to and have now transported to Canada. There
the present. will also be room for articles and opinions
The year 1908 was when the first known on the Indo-Caribbean experience, a calen-
Indo-Caribbean, Kenneth Mahabir from dar of ongoing activities and feedback from
Trinidad, arrived in Nova Scotia to study community members.
medicine and stayed. Those who believe To reach the group, contact Ram Jagessar
Indo-Caribbean history in Canada begins in at 416-290-9088 or e-mail at ram@eol.ca,
the sixties will change their perspective and of course keep looking up the site
when the 100th anniversary of Mahabir’s indocaribbeanheritage.com.
COMMENTARY Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 4
Don’t rush to retire back to Trinidad
Indo-Caribbean Times is pub-
lished monthly in Toronto by FRIENDLY
Indo-Caribbean Times Ltd.
ADVICE
of Trinidad, especially in the quiet country ment to Trinidad. Many of those who try to
areas, you can be reasonably safe and free
Editor/Publisher: Ram Jagessar return home to Trinidad are back in Canada
Editorial Committee:
With Reynold from crime if you keep a low profile and in a year or so.
Reynold Ramdial, Gulcharan Mo- Ramdial don’t advertise your Canadian connection.
Whether it will be a comfortable retire-
Depending on you and your wife’s health,
you may have to evaluate the availability of
habir, Lloyd Harradan, Sandy ment spot depends on what you are looking health care facilities, medication, profes-
Dear Reynold,
Kissoonsingh, Roop Misir, Deoraj I recently retired after 25 years of work
for. You will be very disappointed if you ex- sionals and services. Could you imagine
pect to resume the life of Trinidad in the
Narine, Jiantee Jagessar,Krishna in Toronto, and my wife and I are thinking eighties. That Trinidad is gone forever. The
having to go to one of the major hospitals?
Based on your question, we have con-
Nankissoor of retiring back to Trinidad. But we are people have changed too, as many have re-
worried about the reports of crime, kid- ducted a mini poll of 35 Trinis of all stripes.
Offi
ficce: 17 Gaiety Drive, tired, died, migrated or have moved on with Only one person was willing to fully retire
napping and racism in Trinidad. The chil-
Toronto ON Canada M1H 1B9 dren and grandchildren will not be coming
their lives. They may not have much time there because he still has lots of family
for you and you may have to rebuild a life
Tel:: 416-289-3898 with us, because their life is here in Canada. there, owns property and is still in touch.
all over again.
E-Mail: ictimes@rogers.com Do you think Trinidad is a safe and com- There’s still a lot of racism and discrim-
About the health situation, his response was
fortable place for a couple of retired Indo- “I hope not to have to use it”. As for poli-
ination in Trinidad, but you may not be se- tics, there was nothing but disgust.
Trinis to live out our final years? riously affected if you are a non-working, In spite of all the cautions, Trinidad is
Opinions given in this newspaper Dear Rudy,
non-political retiree. You will have to see still a warm, laid back place that can be
quite a bit of blatant discrimination against
are those of the authors and do On your question about whether Trinidad Indians around you.
good for a retiree. You escape the Canadian
winters in comfort. Prices can be fright-
not necessarily reflect the views is a safe place to retire, I have to tell you Your children and grandchildren will re- fully high, but your Canadian dollars mul-
of the Indo-Caribbean Times. the truth. Trinidad is not as safe as Toronto main in Canada because their life is here. tiply by at least five down there.
where you have been living these past 25 They don’t know Trinidad except as a If you are serious about moving back to
years. Trinidad is not as safe as it was when pleasant place to visit for a week or two.
We welcome letters, e-mails and you left many years ago.
Trinidad, give it a trial run. Don’t sell your
Retirement in Trinidad will mean they house and move your belongings right
comments on matters relevant to There is more street crime, burglaries, car will be out of your life except for brief vis- away. Go down for a few months and see if
Indo-Caribbeans. All content thefts and gun crime than you are used to, its to you or your brief visits to Canada. Be you like it after the first excitement has
must comply with the require- and in some cases recent arrivals from warned that separation from the children, worn off. Then you can make the jump, or
Canada have been targeted because they are
ments of Canadian law believed to have foreign currency.
grandkids and friends in Canada is often a else come back to Canada without cost and
deal breaker for those thinking of retire-
But you should know that in some areas complications.
GUEST COMMENTARY
By Raymond Ramcharitar
TT Kidnaps show sexual revenge vs Indian women
raymondramcharitar@hotmail.com what the PNM has been doing for the last
of kidnap victims (about 80-90 per cent of and incompetent and mis-reporting.
A few years ago, I mentioned in passing to Ramlogan also said that he was told dur- six years with increasing openness and free-
whom are Indian, he said), the fruits of all
a well-to-do young lady—award winning ing the Felicity ‘riots’ late last year, an In- dom from consequences. And that is, that
that cultural activism I reported on became
journalist &c—that listening to calypso dian woman was pulled out of her car and the PNM through its calypsonians, agents
clear.
(anywhere from Shorty’s 'Maharajin' to her hair was cut off. This is an incredible in the media, and its sympathizers, have
His column last Sunday (Jan 14) in the
Aloes’s odes to Oma Panday) the subli- detail which was lost in the wide sweep of openly encouraged this racial war, and keep
Guardian told of a kidnap victim who had
mated sexual element, the desire for sexual the incident and threats of ‘for every one it going by the police service’s collapse, and
been repeatedly raped for three days while
revenge against Indian women was quite African, ten Indian have to go’. their embrace of criminals.
her husband paid the ransom, and became
evident to me. And no arrests. But there is another aspect to this: what
pregnant as a result. On IBN he added some
Her reply surprised me: 'Well, why don’t But here is considerable evidence that is the AfroTrinidadian response? This is not
material he omitted from the column: that
you go from here if it so bad? Leave the kidnapping, and crime generally, are not the black underclass, who are the PNM’s
she was cursed and taunted with racial slurs
country.' That it could be true did not seem just crimes of property: they are crimes of zombie troops. These are the people we
while she was being raped, and made to do
to offend her so much as my saying it. She hatred and revenge,and having ‘the enemy’ meet, become friends with, invite into our
things that were even more dehumanizing
left the country some months later, and now at their mercy allows these men to punish homes, and are invited into theirs, inter-
than being raped.
lives in Europe (EU passport) with her two these housewives and small business own- marry with, procreate and are generally
He did not go into details, except to say
children. But this had been my experience ers, and children of (of course according to each other’s friends and family, who hap-
that 'many' if not most kidnap victims faced
in the media generally: people who feign the PNM savants on Power 102 and i95.5, pen to be Afro-descended.
similar fates—including men. I don’t think
‘objectivity’ but have sometimes very ob- they’re all drug dealers and ‘corrupt’) for Apart from Morgan Job and Lenny
it’s unrelated that the ‘sex video’ featuring
vious agendas which they ludicrously try to the grievous harm they’ve suffered. And Grant, it is clear that the black middle
school children making the rounds shows
hide, until they are threatened with expo- this does not figure the other crimes of vio- class prefers to avert its collective eyes.
an Indian girl being forced to have sex with
sure. lence, like robbery, assault, and rape (with- The average response seems to be embod-
three black ‘schoolboys’. The Express’s
My final stint at the Express was one long out kidnapping) which are not reported, and ied in ‘reasonable’ inane babblings (see
front-page report of this (Jan 19) neglected
battle (from 2002-2004) with sundry such not recorded, and which are racially moti- Martin George in the Guardian) which are
to identify the ethnicities of the victims and
specimens. My offensives were looking at vated. patently pro-PNM, and serve the racial
perpetrators (there’s a big surprise). But this
theatre, calypso, and ‘national culture’ gen- Apropos of this, how much clearer does agenda which keeps the PNM in power.
could be the start of a rite of passage for the
erally, and concluding often that they were this situation have to be? How much clearer This agenda entails a childish ethnic sen-
black criminal underclass.
PNM populism, aimed at stirring racial ha- could it be? Apparently, still not clear sitivity and is almost lunatic in its delu-
And it’s not a small thing. There have
tred and which would have dire conse- enough: one of the Express’s articles on Fe- sion, and leads to logic like:
been hundreds (a thousand?) of reported
quences in the near future. Theirs were licity, written by Sheila Rampersad, used a Crime? Is the fault of government AND
kidnappings over the last five years. And
trying to get me fired and branded a ‘racist’. ‘fairy tale’ ‘once upon a time’ type ap- opposition, and is the same all over the
many that were not reported. So how many
They, of course, won. proach which told of villages, and spoiled world.
hundreds (?) of these victims have been put
The phenomena included plays that por- boys, and elders, and quarrels. A most ap- Corruption? The PNM and the UNC—
through this?
trayed a very ethno-centred nationalism, propriate choice, since the mainstream ap- is the same thing. (Once the PNM in
It might be worthwhile to point out here
radio talk shows that called Indians ‘vomit’, proach to racial issues that paints black power.)
that at least some gangs are ethnically
calypsos which told audiences that Indians Trinidadians as perpetrators rather than vic- Society decaying? That happening all
mixed: looking at the photographs from the
were not true Trinidadians but thieves and tims reeks of fecal fantasy. over the world.
Saada Singh kidnapping suspects last year,
drug dealers who were stealing the patri- Could there be any doubt that these inci- Hate Radio? Well, is freedom of the
this was evident. One gang which included
mony of ‘true’ Trinidadians, and to ‘Kidnap dents are the (desired (?)) result of years of press.
some policemen, who were all convicted a
Dem’, and ‘cultural icons’ and ‘masters’— hate peddling on radio, in the theatres, in Hate calypso? That is the art form, ca-
few weeks ago, was all Indian.
like Earl Lovelace and Leroy Clarke—who schools, calypso tents and in the pages of lypsonian could say anything, yes. (Ex-
This points to some deep resentments,
said things like this openly (which I re- the newspapers? The people who declared cept when they say thing like Bro
mainly among the lower castes/classes in
ported). this war were Selwyn Cudjoe (acting with Marvin.)
the Indian community, which are compara-
But Iwas the only one, it seemed, who the complicity if not on the orders of But ask why mostly Indians getting kid-
ble to the resentments between dark and
noticed, or at least reported and commented Patrick Manning) and facilitators (who napped & you get dead silence.
light-skinned AfroTrinidadians. That aside,
upon these things, & my sources told me transmitted, popularized, and denied), let us Murmurs: Is drugs. Is family ting. They
there is no way to know how ‘mixed’ the
there were people at thetop, who could not say ‘in the media’. owe money and ain’t want to pay. That is
gangs are, but the victims’ reports seem to
bear to see and read this kind of thing, and So a large part of the responsibility for how them Indian is.
point to a preponderance of AfroTrinidadi-
in 2004, I was fired, no reason given. every person who is raped, murdered, and
ans as abductors.
Well, a few nights ago, listening to Anand
In the absence of real journalists and so- dehumanized must fall on these hard heads. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12)
Ramlogan on the Islamic Broadcasting Net- They have hidden, lied, denied, and pro-
cial scientists collecting data, though, we
work (IBN) talking about the experiences moted as something other than what it is,
remain groping in the darkness of anecdotes
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO NEWS Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 5
Brutal kidnap shatters Indian family:marriage broken, husband “an unrecognizable drunk”
FROM PAGE 1 she was forced to submit herself to the following day in full at three different drop-
32 known women kid-
Later that evening, the shift changed grading and humiliating, but the worse was down because facing her family was more nap victims since 2005
worst forms of sexual abuse. It was de- off points. Now, she wishes she never broke
again. She was slapped and warned not to yet to come. Her parents were trying to be difficult than that the suffering and assault
tough with the ransom negotiators. They Women have been a popular target for kid-
say anything by the rapists before they left. she had grown to accept and endure. She
had so far refused to pay a ransom. This, on nappers in Trinidad for the last five years,
She was repeatedly raped by that second was bitter, angry, hurt and totally discon-
the advice of the police and a private nego- with at least 32 reported by the media in the
shift when they returned the next week, and nected. She keeps asking herself if it was
tiator her father had hired. last two years and five murdered by kid-
she eventually confided in one of the guards her brother that was kidnapped whether her
The kidnappers were playing for time, nappers. The true figure is probably much
(X) from thefirst shift. father wouldn’t have just paid the money
knowing that the family will come round. greater, as many of the kidnappings are not
He was most upset and said that was ”not without waiting.
The father was also playing for time, think- reported to the police, and an unknown
part of the plan.” He promised to inform She went into a shell. She lived in her
ing that once they eventually realized that amout of reported kidnappings are not re-
the “bossman” about her plight. The shift room. Spoke and ate very little. One night,
he was not going to pay up their resolve ported to the media by Trinidad police. In
did not change that evening, so she was she just woke up screaming. Her parents
would weaken and his precious daughter March 2006 the Anti Kidnapping Squad re-
not raped. Instead, X allowed her to speak rushed in and she pointed at her father and
would be freed. She paid the price for this vealed that 30 kidnappings had been re-
with her family members, who indicated said she hated him. She accused him of
principled stance ported to the police during January to
that they were going to drop off the money making them rape
As the negotiations intensified, she was al- February 2006 but were never revealed to
the following morning. her and started
She was blindfolded and released. She did lowed to speak to her uncle on an old rampaging her the public.
2005
not tell anyone about the rapes. They were school friend’s cell phone. He asked if she room. She was
all so relieved to have her back, she could- was alright. More concerned about her fam- stark raving mad.
n’t bear to tell them that the ransom money ily and how they were coping, she put up a She flung every-
was all in vain. brave front and said yes, they were treating thing from her Leela Roopnarine,Kyna Rampersad,Nadie
She wanted to scream and tell them they her fine. She didn’t want to add to the pres- desk, pictures Harripersad, Pixie Surujdaye Lakhan (mur-
had kidnapped her soul. sure they were under but asked him to do from the wall and dered),Unnamed woman, Beulah Lopez,
what they could to get her back. broke the bed Michelle Arvello, Neisha Seetaram, Linda
The following day, she was dragged out of Debbie Singh-Ali
ABORTED RAPE BABY lamp. She rum-
spoke out in public Ali,Mary Baldeo Waheed (jumped out of
her room and into the kitchen what seemed maged through kidnap vehicle and killed), Nurse unnamed,
like a run-down dirty apartment. It was the her drawers and took a gold chain he had Seeta Ragoonanan,Penal woman unnamed,
Two weeks later, after much thinking, she
first time that she had even left the room. brought her for her 16th birthday and ripped Candice Harragin,Vanessa Ramsahai,Tessa
flew to a neighbouring Caribbean island
No head phones, this time. The men were it and pelted him with it. She wanted noth- Ramdath Mahara, Samdaye Rampersad
and paid a secret visit to a doctor.
cursing, saying her father ‘set dem up’ and ing from him anymore she shouted, telling (beaten, back broken and buried while still
Her worst fears were confirmed: she was
‘took dem for (expletive) fools’. “All yuh him to take back his (expletive) land. (Her alive), Jade Solis, Unnamed Belmont
pregnant. She had an abortion and returned
Indian feel all yuh too smart!’ he said. He father had given her a piece of land). woman.
2006
home. Not wanting to tell her husband what
was supposed to drop off the money yes- Her mother held her and tried to hug her.
had happened or risk infecting him with
terday but appar- She raised her hand to slap her but was
some unknown STD, she refused to be in-
ently changed his stopped by her brother. She struggled. The
timate with him.
mind. They had phone started ringing – neighbours wanted Indira Seepaul, 9 year old daughter of In-
“I was still kidnapped even after my re-
another kidnap- to know if everything was alright. Her dira Seepau, Vindra Naipaul (missing),Deb-
lease. They kidnapped part of me for life,”
ping job to do and mother chased everyone out, cursing and bie Singh-Ali, Rehanna Ramlochan (raped
she said.
were behind telling them to ‘leave her alone with her and murdered), Candice Beharry, Avalon
She eventually confronted her demons and
schedule and chile’. Her mother listened in horror to Strachan, Giselle Holder, 14 year old Yva
went back for an HIV test. She did not in-
someone (the everything and in tears confessed that she Alexander, 15 year old Diana Bedeau,
dicate what the result was, and I did not ask.
boss) was not too told the father to pay the ransom. Reshma Boodoo (thrown out of kidnap car
She said she was living against her own Vindra Naipaul..still happy. It seemed
The kidnappers had spoken to her once at and killed), 16 year old school girl kid-
will, because she did not want to disappoint missing, feared dead as if they were
her sister’s home. He told her that they napped on Henry St, Port of Spain and gang
those who had sacrificed so much to have
working with a list. They blamed her for all would not harm her daughter if the money raped.
her back.
of this. She didn’t do as she was told. She
2007
was paid. He gave her his word. He said the
No one has been arrested in connection
was supposed to cry and beg them to pay police were involved and if the family told
with her kidnapping to date.
the damn ransom. them what was going on they would only
****************** Annalee James
They blamed her for failing to convince
A MOTHER’S PAIN:
make things worse because they (the po-
the family to pay the ransom. They con- lice) were very greedy.
FAMILY SMASHED cluded that she had things too easy. She too, She begged her husband to pay the money.
TO PIECES BY KIDNAP was ‘(expletive-ing) dem up’ because she The police had set up shop in the house and The home phone was tapped by the police
playing brave and didn’t show enough pain. had advised him not to do that because the and it was her husband and the negotiator
That was about to change. She was spread- kidnappers might think he paid it too easy who spoke when they called. Her son sided
‘It took me ten years to have a child and eagled on the floor naked, belly down and and ask for more. He must negotiate. He with his father and told her to leave it alone
now I feel as if I have lost her,’ the mother anally raped by all three men. She couldn’t had hired a special negotiator who had and she did.
said. My mind darted back to the headline resist as the other two actually stood on her helped another family whose child was kid- She knows that her husband loved his
“Kidnapped for life” a few weeks ago. hands. She begged for the headphones she napped. The men, she said took over. daughter more than life itself but her daugh-
She had all but given up having children. hated so much to no avail. She could feel She didn’t trust the police and spoke to ter’s pain was too great for her to think of
She would look in sadness as other people something running down her legs and her husband but he did not listen to her. She anyone else’s. She took her daughter and
loved theirs, praying and trying every kind thought it was semen. It was not. It was the tried telling her that her father meant well moved out of the house. She misses her son
of fertility treatment, even local herbs. blood from her ruptured anus that didn’t but the look she would never forget the look but has explained to him that he must take
Everything and anything. When she real- make any difference to her rapists. One man from her daughter that pierced her eyes like care of his father while she looks after his
ized she was pregnant, she couldn’t believe used a condom because he didn’t trust the a well-sharpened dagger. She had to be sister. Her husband has gone into a state of
it. Her husband was ecstatic; the unspoken, other two ‘because all yuh always running strong. No point reminding her about all her irreversible and permanent depression. He
emotional void was about to be filled. hoe (whores)’. father had done; all the years she’d spurned swallows pills and drinks himself to sleep
Her daughter was kidnapped. She now re- Battered and bruised, she thought of her her mother as a child in bed so that she every day. The man who fathered her two
fuses to listen to music. Ransom negotia- father. He was indeed wealthy. Why did he could go to her father’s side to hug him to children was now an unrecognizable drunk.
tions were not going well and people had not just pay the money? Did her mother not sleep while sucking her thumb. She still has access to the bank account and
become frustrated. Hands tied behind her tell him to pay it? Were the dreams about She had failed the child that God had he makes sure that there is always enough
back, with duct tape plastered over her them talking to her and lovingly coaxing blessed her with after ten long years of for them to live on.
mouth and a pair of headphones over her her to sleep each night during captivity not painful infertility. She had thought about se-
ears, she was raped by the three men who real? She thought she was so close to her cretly pawning her jewelry and borrowing
stood guard over her during captivity. The father that he could read her mind. He knew the money from her sister herself to secretly (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12)
music was so loud in her ears that it dis- she was tough and always put up a brave pay the ransom without telling her husband
tracted her from the pain. ‘I screamed in my front and the police but had no way of contact-
head because I couldn’t open my mouth,’ She remembered how he hugged her and ing the kidnappers.
she said in a distracted, matter-of-fact kind took her for ice cream when her best friend
of way. chose someone else to speak at her birthday
She eventually accepted her fate and de- party and she pretended not to care. The
cided that she would try and concentrate on precious, unforgettable unspoken under-
the music instead of focusing on the inva- standing between father and daughter. Did
sion and violation of her body but her pow- his money mean more to him?
ers of concentration were no match for the That night, she cried and begged her uncle
brutality. The duct tape was yanked off and for daddy to pay the ransom. It was paid the
RINIDAD AND TOBAGO Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 6
Don’t stop the Carnival! 194 kidnaps last year not a problem!
THE WEST INDIAN is not exactly hostile
to change, but he's not much inclined to be-
Latchman.
The incident triggered a bitter controversy
Manning Waffles over Smelter
TRINIDAD REPORT
lieve in it. Meantime in a fashion Amerigo as relatives of the injured sisters Kaylan, GOVERNMENT is amenable to reversing By Lloyd Harradan
is getting Americanized. The inflow of cash two, and Kyla, one, claimed the children its December decision against the alu-
is making everyone more prosperous. Most were shot by the police. minium smelter in Chatham, following in-
Kinjans go along cheerily with this explo- But investigators dismissed that claim, formation that “drug elements” in that area
sion of American energy in the Caribbean. saying they did not open fire although the may be involved in smelter opposition,
To them it seems like a new harmless and suspects had shot at them Prime Minister Patrick Manning has an-
apparently endless Carnival. So what did they do? Hide behind the ba- nounced.
Inshan Ishmael, a businessman and social bies? After heavy resistance to the Chatham How many kidnaps last year?
activist, disturbed by the high crime rate in ...and Beat up students smelter, Manning had announced at Christ-
Trinidad, called for a national shutdown on mas that the smelter would be shifted from A STORY in the Trinidad Express article
the 25th and 26th of January, 2007. POLICE denied allegations of brutality that location to an offshore point at Ota- on January 2, 2007 said that between Jan-
What was the government's response? after 70 University of the West Indies heite. uary to October last year there were 162
Surely they must have noticed that crime (UWI) students claimed they were beaten Manning was told by COP leader Winston kidnappings, both with and without ran-
was on the increase, and it must have oc- on Friday 9th February by officers at the Dookeran to produce the evidence or shut somdemands. That means an average 16
curred to them that they were responsible traditional Chutney fete on the St Augustine up. Others have attacked Manning for mak- kidnaps per month (four every week!), and
for the safety of the citizens? If the citizens campus. ing this statement. an estimated total by December of 194
wished to send a message to the govern- At a press conference at the campus, how- Surprisingly, the police said that Prime kidnappings. Remember these are just the
ment on crime - or any issue - surely it is ever, students maintained their accusation Minister Patrick Manning was right when kidnappings police know about, which are
the duty of the government to listen to that and said they were going to take legal ac- he said there is drug dealing in Chatham, estimated to be around 10% of the total. So
message? tion against the police. but he is wrong to link the rape of a woman if 194 kidnaps are 10% of all kidnaps, could
Not in Trinidad where it is always endless "The matter will be pursued at a national by burglars to anti-smelter activism. He is that mean Trinidad had 1,940 total kidnaps
Carnival. The government began by attack- level. Our students paid for police presence also wrong about the other claims he made. last year? The National Security minister
ing Mr Inshan's business. Mr. Ishmael im- at the fete, not to brutalise students,” said Detectives have no evidence that groups says the kidnapping situation improved in
ports foreign used vehicles. The Shazard Mohammad, chairman of the Na- opposed to the aluminium smelter con- 2006.
Government has moved swiftly to impose tional Affairs Committee at UWI. struction were linked to the drug elements, Trinidad not safe to live in
quotas for the importation of foreign used There was no reason for that. Some of the and detectives in Point Fortin have no re-
vehicles. students asked what was going on and they port that a villager who supports the build-
TWENTY TWO of the country's leading
Next came an order by the Telecommuni- were brutalised,” he said. ing of the smelter in the village was
private sector business groups have said
cations Authority for the removal of his two Mohammed said the students sought med- threatened and his dog poisoned.
openly that Trinidad and Tobago is not a
programs from IBN Channel 8. ical attention at various hospitals but no one And La Brea police officers are unaware
safe place to live or do business. They are
Then their was a statement by the Com- was seriously injured. of reports that pro-smelter supporters were
demanding that the "authorities take swift
missioner of Police who should be busy He said out of the 3,000 students at the threatened with physical violence and an
and decisive action to deal with the criminal
fighting crime suggesting that the long arm fete, 70 of them sought medical treatment arson attack on a home.
elements in the society".
of the law would reach anyone who entices after being beaten by the police. Manning watchers would be aware that this
Last month the business groups told Na-
or intimidates business people from open- Mohammad and other students claimed is only the latest in a long series of gaffes.
tional Security Minister Martin Joseph they
ing for business. the police were allegedly drunk at the fete, Just before this there was his mishandling
didn't believe his claim that Trinidad is
Although Mr Inshan applied for, and was and campus security gave the officers per- of the Maha Sabha application for a radio
making progress in the fight against crime.
granted permission to hold an assembly in mission to attack the students. licence. Manning seem to be unaware that
Several important new laws have not been
the Aranguez Savannah, this permission Police officers said the fete was due to stop the PNM lost control of the airwaves in
passed, the witness protection program is
was withdrawn. The matter was taken to at 2 am, when the bar licence expired. 1986, when the NAR came to power. So the
not effective, so that witnesses are afraid to
court and the permission was regained. But It was then the students then became vio- Maha Sabha celebrated its victory after a
testify in court cases, and citizens are yet to
the Commissioner of Police did not give lent, they said. seven year battle that had to be decided by
see any improvement in the level of service
permission to use a public address system. Investigators said they were approached the Privy Council. Satnarayan Maharaj
delivered by the Police Service, say the
Finally Mr. Ishmael was arrested. Mr Ish- by the promoters (students planning com- went to India with a group of Pundits and
group.
mael was supposed to be detained under the mittee members) who said Crazy and other has been making daily reports to the faith-
Anti Terrorism Act. He was forced to strip entertainers did not perform. The officers ful. Manning flew to Africa where he issued
and was charged with distributing a flyer then permitted the fete to continue until 3 inane statements about smelters.
Food prices gone crazy, inflation
without his name and address. am. It is not clear who is giving Manning all rising 9% over last year
The shutdown was boycotted by the UNC. The officers said after 3 am, when the fete this bad advice. One shudders to think that
the Syrians, French-Creoles and blacks. But ended, the students were allegedly drunk he is advising himself, remembering the SOME recent food prices should qualify
for two days Indians closed ranks, and since and they got annoyed and took the tassa legal dictum, "He who advises himself is for arrest under the Terrorism Act more than
they are the only ones who work I bet much drums and flags outside on the road. The advised by a fool." Inshan Ishnael. Try little Cornish hens at
didn't happen in Trinidad on those two students began to threaten and throw bot- $45 dollars for one, regular chicken $5.15
days. tles at the officers and their vehicles, and End of sugar industry .. too dear per pound, a case of 20-ounce soft drinks
Is Kick For Them one student had a cutlass, police said. Po- $78, powdered milk $12.99 per kilo-
lice said they did not use a gun to disperse TRINIDAD’S sugar industry shuts down gramme. Then there’s packaged sliced
A GASPARILLO businessman, Shiva Sie- the students. finally this year, as government has decided bread for $6.25, a half-pound of coffee
unarinesingh, skilled in martial arts, es- At approximately 3.15 am, requests for the not to buy any more from cane farmers after $9.99, a dozen eggs $8.99 and a pound of
caped a gang of potential kidnappers on students to disperse and stop the tassa the 2007 crop. The 7,500 cane farmers (and butter $12.99. A tin of corned beef set you
Monday in front of his mother’s business. drumming were made by the State police. about 60,000 family members and cane back $7.29, powdered detergent $16.99,
Shiva was securing the business at around Following the request, some students workers and their families) will have to find humble peewah ten dollars a pound ( Take
3.50 pm, when a man came up to him. The claimed they were assaulted by police in the something else to live on. Caroni Ltd. is al- it or leave it!), fish $14 and $20 per pound,
man allegedly whipped out a gun and car park. ready closed since 2003, workers laid off, pigeon peas $10 per pound, patchoi $4 to
shouted: “Bank man, you going with me.” Calypso tents feel and only a sugar factory Sugar Manufac- $8, dasheen bush between $3 and $5, im-
ported grapes $18 per pound, and one. pom-
Police said the gunman attempted to drag Indian Backlash turing Company Limited (SMCL) remains
off Sieunarinesingh who kicked the gun- to handle sugar for local consumption mecytere for $2.50, the same as an
"I note with some sadness," V M Cristo
man. The gun fell to the ground some dis- PM Manning told the farmers the sugar imported apple. Trinidad will begin im-
from Arouca writes, "that calypso tents are
tance away. What the Police did not say was industry had become a financial burden porting chicken from Guyana’s Didco farm
"seeing trouble''. Some have gone cap in
that Shiva broke the gunman's arm with that Government could no longer bear. He this month.
hand (a time honoured national pastime) to
one kick. Officers did not apprehend any of the Government for funds to keep this once talked about the $47 million given to the
the men, but we didn't really expect them sugar industry team last year, and another Trinis heading for Vincy
proud national institution running. Maybe
to, did we? Police are also not on the look- it's time calypsonians do some introspection $61 million given to the research extension
out for a black man with a broken arm, who support services. That’s $108 million. Some wealthy Trinis are heading for
and ponder on the cause or causes behind St Vincent and the Grenadines to es-
has to get medical attention at some time. this situation... However, Government seems to have no
cape high crime rates at home.That's
If you can't shoot since Cro Cro sang , "Allyuh look for trouble finding money for the make-work
the word from Dr Ralph Gonsalves
bandits... shoot Babies that'', I have stopped going to calypso tents CEPEP program, which has gobbled up
Prime Minister of St Vincent and the
and I have advised all my friends and fam- over $1 billion since 2002, or another bil-
lion for the Tarouba Sports Stadium that Grenadines, who says he’s seen in the
Trinidad police are probing the circum- ily to do same. That was 1996. Since then I last three years an increase in the num-
stances under which two babies were shot have also heard Cro Cro sing a song that en- nobody wanted or asked for.
ber of people—business people, pro-
while playing outside their home in Care- dorsed and promoted kidnapping as a form fessionals, retirees—from Trinidad (and
nage as detectives of the Western Division of economic development. Calypso is now Jamaicq) who want to own a second
chased two suspects who were being sought a weapon to batter the Indian community home in his country.
in connection with the killing of Clint every February."
GUYANA NEWS Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 7
GUYANA UPDATE
family-based immigrant status must
now be filed only with United States
Citizenship and Immigration Service
Progess in the villages,
black kidnap criminals
(USCIS) in
the United States. All family-based
on the defensive
immigrant visa petitions which were
approved at the U.S. Embassy in
Georgetown after July 27, 2006 and
are pending visa issuance must also
On a recent trip to Guyana I realized that there
be returned to the USCIS for contin-
was an undercurrent in the country that was not
ued processing in the United States”,
reflected in the media.
the embassy said.
I hadn’t visited in 5 years and there were some
American citizens and legal perma-
immediate visible changes. For example: the
nent residents, it said, can obtain
roads. I was really impressed with progress on the
information on how to file an I-130
roads around the entire country, not to mention
with USCIS in the United States on
Georgetown. In and out of Georgetown there are
the USCIS website, www.uscis.gov,
4 lane highways that are well lit. I am wondering,
or by contacting the U.S. Embassy in
“is this Guyana or Toronto?” Housing is another
Georgetown.
area that struck me. The government has in the last
The embassy said it deeply regrets
few years given out affordable house lots to the
the inconvenience this change causes
Buddy’s International Hotel in Georgetown is the grandest of a new group of hotels ordinary people to build. And it is visible that
both petitioners and beneficiaries but
being built to accomodate the Cricket World Cup and other events in Guyana. there are significant improvements in this area.
added that the law is clear.
With respect to “black outs”: I did not experience
by the seawall. She no longer has any cows “Please contact the visa inquiries
a single one in the 10 days that I was there. Black
GOVT. HELP FOR 103 YR. or goats. unit (email visageorge@state.gov or
outs used to be the norm in Guyana.
Since the floods Bibi Shameena said she call 225-7965 between 8 am- 12 pm
OLD JAHAJI KOWSILLA I noticed that when I entered a home there was a
has not reared any fowls and the ducks her and 1 pm- 4 pm Monday through Fri-
phone there, even in the villages. This was a sur-
brother was feeding in a pond under an ar- day) if you have questions about the
The Ministry of Human Services says it prise also. Even water availability was noticeably
bour was the first set of "English ducks" she new regulations”, it said.
will be providing assistance to 103-year-old improved.
had reared since the 2005 floods. They have
Gaitree Kowsilla. Driving around Georgetown I observed dozens
According to a Government Information
replanted some of the crops on the land sur- MAHAICONY HOSPITAL of hotels under construction. I learnt that these
Agency (GINA) press release on Thursday
rounding their home but the land adjacent TO OPEN BY MARCH were being built for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
to the home has not been planted since the
human services minister Priya Manickc- I also learnt that the hoteliers are given a 10 year
floods. She said they would have to build
hand visited the woman at President Bhar- The new Mahaicony Hospital com- tax holiday as incentive to build these hotels. But
up the land because it had sunk.
rat Jagdeo's request after her daughter and plex is expected to be finished by the who are the owners of these hotels? Well, inter-
At first, when they had started replanting,
caretaker Sookia Ramdass penned a re- end of February, turning it into a estingly, it appears that the owners are mainly the
she said, the callaloo was spotted and the
quest. much needed regional hospital. drug boys. You see, Guyana has emerged as a key
boulanger leaf, rusty. The boulanger was
Kowsilla, of 272 Good Hope Housing The original Mahaicony Cottage drug centre. Because of the strict anti laundering
hardly ever bought by anyone even though
Scheme, East Coast Demerara, came to Hospital which was under utilised is laws in North America, the drug money is stuck
they were edible. "We are coping alright,"
Guyana on October 10, 1912 as an inden- being transformed it into a state-of- in Guyana. So the money is now appearing as ho-
she and other family members agreed. They
tured labourer. She is now bedridden and the-art Comprehensive Diagnostic tels. One of the big debates in Guyana was the
now have thriving plots of squash, ochroes,
Ramdass, her youngest daughter cares for and Treatment Centre. casino issue. It appears that this is another form
boulanger, pepper, broad leaf thyme and
her. Ramdass said her mother is very jovial A team from the Ministry of Health the money can be laundered.
carilla.
and that she likes to talk about her experi- led by Minister within the Ministry Noticeably absent were the high profile crimes
She said they had some assistance from
ence working on the sugar plantations dur- of Health, Dr. Bheri S. Ramsaran, like kidnapping and businessmen murders. These
former minister of Human Services and So-
ing indentureship. visited the hospital recently and are invariably against Indians. After asking
cial Security Bibi Shadick who had visited
Manickchand said government would pro- Chief Planning Officer (CPO) of the around I found out that the businessmen/drug boys
the area. Bibi Shameena also received the
vide public assistance and other support for Ministry of Finance Clyde Roopc- took the situation in their own hands: they went
$10,000 that government had provided.
Ramdass as she is unable to work. Former hand, was very direct, demanding on their own campaign to clean out the elements
Bibi Shameena is just one of about
Minister of Human Services Bibi Shadick and aggressive in ensuring that the in Buxton who were responsible for these crimes,
200,000 or more people who were affected
had given a wheelchair to the family early government gets value for dollar. including Wadell the racist, who called himself the
by the floods that lasted for periods ranging
last year. There are three other such centres African freedom fighter who publicly expressed
from two weeks to six weeks in some areas.
being constructed at Diamond, East his anti Indian hatred.
While there was no major outbreak of dis-
RECOVERING FROM EAST eases a number of people contracted lep- Bank Demerara; Leonora, West There was an uneasy calm in Guyana. It was the
COAST DEMERARA FLOODS tospirosis which proved to be fatal in some Coast Demerara; and Suddie, Esse- first time I was there and I was not having “loose
quibo Coast . They should all be bowels” when I passed Buxton. What I heard was
cases and a number of persons had also
completed this year. The four state- that the criminals in Buxton were at a loss as to
Two years after the East Coast Demerara, drowned.
of-the-art health centres are being deal with the vengeance from the drug boys. Co-
Georgetown and other parts of coastal
constructed as a result of a joint ini- incidentally, the drug boys are mostly Indians and
Guyana were devastated by flooding, resi- NO MORE US IMMIGRANT
tiative between the Guyana Govern- the kidnappers blacks. This has put a pause on
dents are still recovering and rebuilding VISA PETITIONS FROM ment and Cuba . the race crimes in Guyana. What this is saying is
their livelihoods. Raging floodwaters
surged over the East Coast Demerara in
GEORGETOWN High quality health services will be that if the anti Indian crimes are answered with
rendered from these centres that will quick and vicious response that they will stop.
2005, destroying crops and forcing people
THE United States Embassy has an- be staffed by Cuban specialists with This has happened in Guyana just by coincidence
out of their homes.
nounced that due to provisions in the re- support of qualified local medical because it affected the drugs boys who happened
Down the East Coast Demerara at Lot 1,
cently passed Adam Walsh Child Protection personnel. They would accommo- to be Indians. Because of the calm and non- ob-
Good Hope Bibi Shameena and her family
and Safety Act, U.S. embassies overseas date modern equipment. The Ma- struction for the PNC racist elements, the govern-
were cooking their dinner, while at the
can no longer accept family-based immi- haicony Regional Hospital will be ment is able to move ahead with their
same time carrying out other chores like
grant visa petitions (I-130s). under Cuban administration. The development program at a normal pace. This is
feeding the ducks and making pepper
Although this change will inconvenience team is due in Guyana soon and liv- benefiting Guyana …..for now. Who knows how
sauce.
some families, the U.S. Embassy must ing quarters have been renovated to long this calm will last? It will last as long as the
In 2005 the Stabroek News had found Bibi
comply with the law. Consular officers will cater for 28 Cuban doctors. Indians will not tolerate the nonsense from the
Shameena and her brother feeding the
work with affected petitioners and benefi- Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ram- racist destructive elements from the black popu-
ducks from their veranda because the flood-
ciaries to ensure they have the information sammy, has identified the National lace.
water was about four feet high in the yard
they need on the steps they need to take to Psychiatric Hospital at New Amster- In this instance we are lucky that the blacks
and the kitchen on the ground floor was
complete processing of their cases ,“ the day , Berbice, as a priority facility for struck the raw nerve of the drug boys who hap-
completely flooded out. Their meat and lay-
embassy said in a press release. reconstruction. “The Government of pened to be Indians and are bold enough to fight
ing birds had all died and their once thriv-
It explained that as a result of the Adam Guyana is engaged in mobilising back. Let’s keep this up and live out the dreams
ing garden was completely covered. They
Walsh Act, all family-based immigrant visa funds for the reconstruction of the of out forefathers to inherit a great land across
lost two calves, a cow and some goats dur-
petitions (I-130s) must be screened to en- hospital,” Ramsammy stated, ex- “kala pani”. Our responsibility is not to run to
ing the floods and one cow died shortly
sure the petitioner has not been convicted plaining that for many years, the hos- Canada but to stick it out and fight for what is
after the water receded.
pital was neglected and had become rightfully ours: a free Guyana where we can pros-
Bibi Shameena said she cried for her cows of specific criminal offences against a
a national disgrace by 1990. per and enjoy!
because they were like her children. All she minor.
The hospital currently facilitates
had to do was yell "Yo! Yo!" and they Consular officers at embassies and con-
155 persons, of whom, 100 have Ganpat Singh
would come for their feed, she said. She sulates overseas are not law enforcement
been determined as persons who Hurting Guyanese longing to return home.
buried one of the cows near by the home officers and do not have access to this in-
could live at home. It is considered
when the water had receded and the other formation. Thus, all I- 130 petitions for
to be seriously understaffed..
GUYANA NEWS Indo-Caribbean Times Page 8
Guyana looks at threat Kidnaps gone but not ‘Dead' woman No plan to close sugar
of global warming all crimes vs Indians delivers baby in tomb estates says Minister
AS the effects of global warming become Some recent incidents in Guyana show IN a truly bizarre incident, a 38 year old SPECULATION about the dissolution of
increasingly evident, Government has made that crimes against Indians continue to be a North West District woman who was buried the Demerara sugar estates has been cate-
a commitment to continue working with re- problem. These are just a few examples. while she was eight months' pregnant was gorically dispelled by Agriculture Minister,
sponsive Governments and international found to have delivered her baby in the Robert Persaud, when he met with sugar
bodies and agencies in a spirit of advocacy. $20 MILLION ROBBERY grave. workers at the Uitvlugt Estate, West Coast
Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon said Linman Sookdeo, a 54-year-old cambio The child and his mother, Florence Carol Demerara.
at press briefing that since Guyana is below dealer, was robbed at gunpoint outside his John, were both found dead in the coffin, According to the Minister, there has been
sea level and could suffer from severe home at Lot 93 Collingsworth Avenue, when the body was exhumed for a post incessant murmuring about Government's
weather conditions and loss of freshwater Nandy Park . Three men with handguns mortem examination. intention to close down the estates, but he
stores every effort will be made by the ad- stole $20M in foreign and local currency Florence John,of Kariabo River, was pro- noted that this can only be regarded as
ministration to join forces with like-minded from a bag in his car. nounced dead, on January 26, at the “empty rumours”.
Governments and those committed to en- Mabaruma Hospital, hours before she was Persaud stressed that Government, against
suring that the effects of global warming is scheduled to be air-dashed to the city fol- all recommendations from the World Bank
reversed. lowing complications with her pregnancy. and other relevant groups, made a decision
Cabine reviewed a report dealing with cli- She had fallen at the family farm and in- not to close down any estate, despite nu-
mate change, it was revealed that global jured herself. merous challenges.
warming persists mainly as a result of Before she could be airlifted to the the city, The Minister noted that Government's ob-
human activities.The use of fossil fuel and she collapsed and was pronounced dead by jective is to make the estates more viable by
the changes in land use were the main con- an attending nurse. transforming them into profit units.
tributory factors to this situation. John was buried on Sunday, January 28, This, according to Persaud, will see efforts
But local efforts are being made, accord- at Wauna, some five miles fromMabaruma. being made to increase sugar production to
ing to the Cabinet Secretary, to address this Three days later, Police informed the some 450,000 tonnes annually while bring-
situation through the Natural Resources woman's husband, and her father that they ing down its cost to US$11 per pound. And
Sector and the Hydromet Department. Berbice robbery victims Raywattie, Lak- should make themselves available at the in order to see the industry thrive, the Min-
They are to work on the adaptation of eram Baburam and Reshma Ramoutar place of burial for an exhumation of the ister revealed that Government has invested
measures to deal with the impact of climate body. billions of dollars in Guysuco to ensure that
changes. It is believed limate change will GUNMEN WITH AK-47s When the coffin containing John's remains plans and proposed works critical to the
significant impact on Guyana, especially SIX masked gunmen stormed a home at was opened, all present were horrified to economy and workers can be activated.
since rising sea levels coupled with an in- Number Two Village, West Coast Berbice discover a newborn baby boy. The family As efforts are heightened to guarantee the
crease in destructive storms will threaten and carted off nearly $300,000 worth of is convinced that the woman was prema- sugar industry's survival, Minister Persaud
the existence of small island-states and low gold jewellery, $15,000, sneakers valued at turely buried and that she was not really asserted that there is the ever-increasing
lying coastal communities. $7,000 and a landline telephone. dead when the nurse pronounced on her need to look towards diversification.
Over 90 percent of Guyana 's population Lakeram Baburam, 32, said it was around condition. He outlined the ability to produce biogas
and a vast majority of its agricultural and 11.05 pm a few nights ago while he was “As far as I am concerned, a dead woman and ethanol as sources of energy, as well as
economic activities are located on the preparing to accompany an overseas-based cannot deliver a baby. She neck, nothing, the establishment of a refinery to produce
coastal plain which is below current sea uncle to the airport that he was confronted wasn't stiff when dey bury she,” John's sis- white sugar, as some of the ways the sector
level. by the men. ter Genevieve Joseph reasoned. can be expanded profitably.
Alarm as youth
Two of the men carried long guns which Relatives are not satisfied that John re- He noted, however, that Government's
he thought were AK-47s, while another ceived the best treatment, and are planning plans to establish a distillery, also using the
Group of Indians, Trinidad Indian sadhu, Trinidad Suriname Paramaribo girl Suriname Indian couple
St Lucia native hut Guyana punts with cane Jamaica Indians at worship Carting cane in Trinidad
ACHIEVERS Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 11
Meet Ria Ramnarine, first Indo-Caribbean Boxing Champion of the World
Little giant battles the odds, government indifference to become Trinidad’s women boxing hero and kickboxing title contender
WITH an indomitable spirit and the heart experience “Since then there’s been no in to the spotlight and “Ria Ramnarine” was Professional jealousy reared its ugly head
of a lion, Ria Ramnarine has been able to looking back. I’m glad that I have a good starting to become a household name. She and those who couldn’t bear the thought of
achieve success against all odds. Born on coach who allows me to explore my options also broke into the top ten rankings in the the petite, 105lb Ramnarine being the first
12 October 1978 in a very humble home, in the different fields of Martial Arts”, men- world in both boxing and kick-boxing. women in the country to win such a title
Ria was the last of four children to Narad tions Ramnarine. Despite their intentions not to accept mis- wagged their tongues mercilessly, referring
and Dulcie. Nowadays Ria looks back on a matches, Ria and her coach journeyed once to the victory as a ‘very controversial deci-
childhood that was very difficult but one more to Calgary. This time in November sion’. Needless to say, Ria handled the sit-
she isn’t ashamed of. “Things were really 2003 to match fist and feet with World uation with the savvy and aplomb of a true
hard and my family had to work together to Muay Thai Champion, Erin Linley. “At world champion.
make a living” says Ria . The long days least, we were the same weight,” Ria “I know I won the fight without a doubt
toiling in the garden or selling fruits and quipped. Fighting Muay Thai for the first but certain entities couldn’t handle the truth
vegetables by the roadside built her re- time was not an easy task against a world of me being a world champion. They had
silience. The hours trekking through the champ and although Linley won the bout, come expecting me to lose and I ‘d disap-
mosquito-infested mangroves in search of Ria again won the hearts of the people for pointed them. I never ask for favors from
oysters made her strong, mentally and her courageous performance. anyone, in or out the ring. And certainly not
studying under the flickering flames of a In 2004, Ria changed jobs again. Although from judges or referees, in fact, as far as I
kerosene lamp or a flambeau made her de- she had no accounting experience she was have observed I am given a harder time
termined. Determined to excel in school, offered a job as an Accounts Clerk and al- from certain officials in my own country. I
get a good job and be successful, successful ways one to explore new territory, she ac- was also to learn that a certain notorious
enough to give back something to her par- cepted the offer. Within a few days she matchmaker had put out a hit on me, just to
ents. demonstrated her capability and was an im- prevent me from creating that piece of his-
In 1995, Ria graduated from Holy Faith mediate success in the company. After an- tory.
Convent with eight passes in the field of other cancelled bout because of a lack of Despite the efforts to discredit her, Ram-
science, which included three distinctions. sponsorship, Ria and her manager desper- narine was honoured by the President of the
Enrolling in a private school, in 1998 she But there have been moments and days ately sent out more packages in hope of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Profes-
copped two more distinctions in Business when it would have been easy to give up. sor George Maxwell Richards, at the 2005
and in 2000 earned her Process Plant Oper- Having to train, study and work was drain- “Don’t ever be ashamed of National Independence Day Awards.
ations diploma from the John Donaldson ing her energy. Ria admits, “I would be so your ancestry and cultural She now has HBM attatched to her name
Technical Institute and was immediately re- tired sometimes that I’d fall asleep in taxis background. Do not be afraid to represent the Humming Bird Medal that
cruited as an “On The Job Trainee” by Na- or lie behind the gym counter for a ten to step into areas where peo- she received. Additionally she has been
tional Flour Mills Ltd. She worked her way minute nap before training started”. recognised and awarded for her achieve-
ple think Indians have no right ments and contribution towards sports by
up to Plant Operator 1 after two and a half Then there was the problem of sponsor-
years. ship. Ria and her manager prepared several to step into. . And most impor- various organisations that include, the
But during that time, Ria had her sights set packages which were sent to different com- tantly, believe in yourself and Global Organisation of People of Indian
on other goals too. August 1995 she joined panies but these would go unanswered until the strenght and greatness of Origin (GOPIO) Trinidad Ltd, the National
Fine Line Fight Club, paying her first fees 2004. Because of the lack of funding, she your people”. Ria’s advice Youth Action Committee, the Couva Cham-
with one dollar bills and coins. To avoid her was faced with the problem of inadequate ber Sugar and Energy Festival Committee,
father’s fury, she didn’t tell her parents fights. To compensate for this, Ria accepted finding a sponsor. Ma Pau Members Club, the Hindi Nidhi Foundation and the T&T
about the gym. Weight-lifting was her main several fights where she was mismatched a private gaming establishment, came to the Kick Boxing Federation.
objective but she soon started aerobics and either by weight or experience or in most rescue and exclusively sponsored Ramnar- She emerged as one of the First Citizens
karate as well. With classes going later and cases, both. ine’s next bout against the gritty Japanese- Sports Foundation top ten sports personal-
later, Ria was forced to tell her parents and One particular fight that stood out was American Deidre Hamaguchi. ties for 2005, although many sporting affe-
as expected she met with a wall of disap- against world featherweight champion The Women’s International Boxing Asso- cionados thought that Ria’s
proval. “Mom almost freaked out and Dad Leona Brown in 2001. Ria looked almost ciation (WIBA) Mini-Flyweight Iberian- accomplishments was more than enough to
ranted and raved” she recalls. Of course she tiny to the big and brawny New York na- American title was at stake and according win her the coveted Sportswoman of the
refused to stop, disregarding the continuous tive. After four rounds the referee stopped to reports the two women fought like Year award. For her first world title de-
arguments and threats from her father. the contest in favor of Brown. She (Ria) Roman Gladiators, throwing everything fence, the opponent ‘ran away’ mere min-
By that time she’d graded for her yellow was fortunate to come out of the fight un- they had at each other. In the end, the utes before the fight. Many were confused
belt and was successfully competing in scathed. That was something of a turning Trinidadian’s clean combinations and solid as to why Marianne Chubirka opted not to
karate tournaments. But now her heart was point. Was it really worth fighting girls who defense won her a unanimous decision and fight since she was seven pounds heavier
set on something else, she wanted to kick- were so much bigger and experienced? the title. Later on that year, when her origi- than Ria!
box. The full contact scenario of kickbox- Thereafter Ria tried to stay at least within nal Puerto Rican opponent had problems Nothing was enough to distract the deter-
ing beckoned strongly but it took two years her own weight class. with her boxing license, Ria stepped into mined Ramnarine and she religiously con-
before her father agreed with some persua- In 2001, Ramoutar accepted a new boxing the ring with an opponent who was thirty tinued her training. 2006 was to be a
sion from Sensei Bharrath Ramoutar, owner coach, Darren Vidale, into his gym. With pounds heavier and emerged victorious. whirlwind year for Ria. Travelling to Hun-
and instructor of the gym. Today, Mr. Ra- both coaches in her corner, Ria scaled an- Holding the number three spot in the gary in April to face another world cham-
moutar continues to be Ria’s coach, man- other level and went on to knock out an- WIBA rankings, Ria was eligible to contest pion, Ria and her coach were stranded in
ager and promoter. other kickboxing opponent and then for a world title. Ironically the opponent England due to the lack of proper travel
Being the only female in the class wasn’t outpoint Guyanese Shondell Thomas in mandated by the WIBA was none other arrangements made by the promotion team
a problem. “Actually I think that worked for Guyana. However 2002 proved a slow year than southpaw American Yvonne Caples, a in Hungary. ‘That really hurt because I’d
me because I had to train as hard as the as there was only one fight, a rematch with former world champion who had a solid prepared so hard for the fight. I knew
guys, or even harder to be able to keep up Thomas that ended in a no-contest. amateur background and seventeen pro Kristina Belinzsky would have been a good
with them. Soon enough I was neck to neck March 2003 saw Ria resigning from her fights, six of which were world title bouts. test and I cried my eyes out in the airport
with them and even left a few behind in the job at National Flour Mills. Not only was Ria had never encountered a southpaw nor when we got stranded”.
physical workouts, that way I learned to she a female in a male dominated industry, had she ever gone ten rounds in any of her The next stop was her title defence in July,
train hard and smart from the beginning”. she was the only female in her department, ten fights. Hardly one to be fazed, Ramnar- which she won by unanimous decision,
Ramnarine made her kickboxing debut in and a very successful one as well. Instead ine handled the tough training regime again creating history by being the first
1998 and did not lose heart when the fight of being proud of their co-worker, they de- meted out to her. “I am thankful for the way Trinidadian, male or female, to make a suc-
which most thought she’d won, was ruled spised Ria for her ability to learn and adapt Sensei (Ramoutar) trained me, both men- cessful world title defence in boxing. Then
as a draw. Instead she trained harder and in quickly to the demands of the job; she had tally and physically. Although my other in September she was given the opportunity
her next outing to the ring, knocked out her mastered both operations of the plant in less coach, Mr. Vidale was no longer at Fine of a lifetime to fight Europe’s boxing
opponent. Some months later with just two than three months. The mental stress com- Line, Sensei assured I was totally prepared queen, the legendary Regina Halmich. A
fights under her belt, she journeyed to Cal- bined with the night shifts and exhausting and with all the long, hard hours I trained I German with a record of fifty wins, fifteen
gary, Canada and weighed in thirteen work began to take its toll, hence her resig- felt quietly confident. “ knockouts, one loss and one draw who
pounds less than the World Champion, nation. On May 28th 2005, Mr. Ramoutar pro- fought at 112lbs. (Ria had less fights than
Vanessa Bellegarde. Standing toe to toe Through his kindness, Mr. Ramoutar al- moted the first ever female world title bout Regina had knockouts).
with the champ, Ria lost the fight, but won lowed Ria to manage the gym. To supple- in Trinidad and Tobago and Ria became the “The purse was the highest ever offered to
the admiration and more importantly the re- ment her income, she offered private tuition queen of the mini-flyweights when she out- me and with no other fight in immediate
spect of the pro-Vanessa crowd. to schoolchildren. Though it turned out to pointed the slick and crafty Caples to win sight, I accepted the offer. Besides, Regina
Less than two weeks later, Coach Ra- be a hectic schedule, Ria had enough time the WIBA Mni-Flyweight World Title. was someone I admired and saw as a great
moutar signed Ria on for her pro boxing to train and in July 2003, she unanimously Being first female Trinidadian to win a ambassador for women’s boxing since the
debut, which she won by third round knock out-pointed a game Vicki Boodram to win world boxing title, Ria reveled in the mo- beginning of my career. To step into the
out. She went straight to the professional their six round contest. Her classic boxing ment. But her joy was tainted with the on- ring with her was almost unreal”.
ranks without the benefit of any amateur display that night somewhat propelled her slaught of uninformed criticism. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 21)
INTERNATIONAL Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 12
Roti Festival a
somewhere in India, then of stars and icons A MOTHER’S PAIN
hit in Jamaica
from the country where they live in. This (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5)
has to be changed,” said Shashi Bharos,
CEO of Sanoja Networks. One day her son got into a fight at a
The community of Hindustanis are based nightclub and the protagonist told him ‘Yuh
in Surinam and the Netherlands with their sista geh kidnap and doh worry, you next in
roots in South Asia. They came in 1873 (expletive) line’. His father sent him abroad
from British India to live and work in Suri- immediately. Her daughter cut off the beau-
name. tiful hair which her father loved so much
When Suriname became independent, a lot and now sports a ‘boy cut’. She is supposed
of Hindustanis came to the Netherlands. to go for counseling but always has an ex-
This project also supports the Dutch Vrin- cuse.
The annual Rath Yatra will be davan foundation. At the moment the foun- She no longer prays and hates the gospel
A woman makes roti at held in Leicester,UK in August dation tries to build a shelter for young music she once loved. She wants no bible in
2006 Roti Festival women and girls in Vrindavan. her room and wants no priest to come and
They’re expecting huge crowds when the INDO SURINAMESE pray for her. She has turned vegetarian and
National Council for Indian Culture in Ja-
HONORED IN HOLLAND HILLARY NAMES INDIAN has a robotic existence with predictable rit-
maica hosts its second Roti Festival this AMERICAN POLICY ADVISOR ualistic routines. Rhyme, rhythm and rea-
weekend. The festival will be held at the son have disappeared from her life.
Club India, Lady Musgrave Road, St. An- TV personality Reshma Roopram, musi-
Indian-American Neera Tanden has been As a mother, she is collapsing inside. She
drew, on Sunday. calstar Anil Jagdewsing, dance guru Sand-
asked to head 2008 Presidential frontrunner feels as if her insides are being ripped apart
Eager crowed can expect to sample eight hya Manniesingh, singer Oemar Wagid
Hillary Clinton's think tank as campaign ‘with pliers’. Her family has been fractured
different rotis, curried goat, curried mango, Hosain, newsreporter Perdiep Ramesar,
policy director. Tanden has worked with the and destroyed by these kidnappers. A per-
curried potatoes, dhal, curried chicken, taekwondo champion Soebhaash Dihal, Dj
Clintons on and off for nearly a decade and fect marriage had come to naught. She saw
ackee and saltfish, aloo choka (mashed po- Prako and businessman Virindra Kalika are
for the Democratic Party much before that. her daughter eavesdropping while she
tato), as well as authentic North Indian chosen to be the “Hindustanis of the year”
After graduating from Yale in 1996, she spoke with her husband on the phone once
dishes that will be showcased at the Food in Holland.
worked on the Clinton- Gore presidential with a frown and speaks with him in secret
Festival. This was the choice of more than 6000 vis-
campaign in California. The 37-year-old now. She has stopped him from calling her
The organisers have promised that this itors who voted on the website of Sanoja
woman has been a top aide to Hillary Clin- as he often did so when he was drunk to ask
year's festival will be better organised and Entertainment Magazine. There were 40
ton for nearly 15years. She worked with the about his ‘baby girl’. In total isolation,
that there will be ample helpings of roti. nominees divided over 8 categories. Main
Clintons during the presidential campaign mother clings to the shadow that is left of
"Last year we ran out of food but this year goal of the election was to enlarge the per-
of Bill Clinton and as Hillary Clinton's leg- her daughter nursing the memories of hap-
we are better prepared. There will be at ceptible of the Hindustanis in the media, to
islative aide in Washington. Tanden has pier times.
least eight to 10 persons making rotis, on stimulate new talent and to force acknowl-
been the senior vice-president, academic af- She wanted the world to know her story
spot, against the two who were present last edgement of Dutch Surinamese community.
fairs, at the Centre for Responsive Politics, because she has heard many people say that
year," says Vishu Tolan, chairman of The organization decided to cancel this
a Democratic think tank in Washington. She the families should not pay the ransom. If
the Roti Festival and vice-chairman of the year’s event. At the end of 2007 there will
worked on Hillary's 'Listening tour' before she had it her way, she would have gladly
NCICJ. The organisers are hoping to pro- be a new election in The Hague, the presi-
she ran for the Senate seat from New York given them a little extra, she said.
vide approximately 5,000 rotis by noon. dential capital of the Netherlands where the
largest group Dutch Indians are residential: State, and was in charge of all of Clinton's
Food stalls with a variety of Indian dishes briefings and talking points. (Anand Ramlogan has written several other
for sale will also be a new addition at this approximately 65,000. According to the or-
Neera Tanden grew up with a divorced hard hitting exposes on the kidnapping
year's staging. Other activities planned for ganizers, “Dutch Indians”, especially the
mother who was on welfare for two years being perpetrated on Indians in Trinidad,
the festival are roti-making demonstrations, new generation are suffering of a mentality
and received food stamps before she which have blown the cover of secrecy that
roti-eating contests and entertainment such crisis that goes deep down to their roots in
worked her way through school and gradu- kidnappers enjoyed for several years. The
as henna painting.. India and Surinam.
ated from Yale law school. head of the Anti Kidnapping Squad was re-
“Most of them are fans of amateur actors
cently removed from his position.)
property before
Your money in bank accounts in Guyana
or elsewhere is usually safe and easy to homes changed hands in the first month of winter. This figure was 13%
higher than January 2002, which was the previous record for the month,
any action
transfer to Canada when you need to do so.
Bank accounts abroad usually earn inter- according to Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) president Dorothy
est at higher rates than in Canada, so your Mason.
foreign based cash is making money for Not surprisingly, the western side of the GTA had the highest sales of
By Gulcharan Mohabir C.G.A. you. But if that country’s currency is con-
tinually losing strength against the Cana- 1,975 homes in 28 West districts, with home prices averaging $335,116.
Question: When I left Guyana to come to dian dollar, then you have to consider your The Mississauga area alone recorded 667 sales, 10 per cent over the 2006
Canada I left behind our large family home cash deposits abroad may really be a de- January total, with the average prices of $335,252 also being 10 per cent
and a fair amount of cash in the bank, clining asset in spite of earning bank inter- over last January. Included in the list were sales of 219 detached houses,
which I use when I go visiting. I also own est. In such a case it would make sense to which averaged $478,889 in price.
several lots of land suitable for house build- move that money to Canada rather than
ing. Everything remains as it was ten years leave it abroad. East Toronto also did well, recording 1,238 sales in 21 East districts, at
ago, and one of my relatives is occupying Houses and land are a tricky proposition an average cost of $280,178. The North registered 1,082 sales in 23 N
the house rent free with my permission. I that tends to be hard to manage from thou- orth districts, at an average price of $383,806. Central Toronto had the
am wondering if I am doing the right thing sands of miles away. If you leave relatives fewest sales, with 878 in its 14 Central districts, but home prices were the
in leaving my valuables in Guyana? What to live in your house rent free they will take highest, at an average of $462,211.
would you advise? care of the property for you. But be warned.
K. Singh, Toronto Sometimes they feel after a few years that “While one shouldn’t read too much into a single month’s result,” the
the house is theirs and will resent you trying President said. “January’s record breaking performance is an encouraging
Gulcharan’s advice:
to take it back or sell it. They may try to sign for the year ahead.”
Before you look at what to do with your
TO EASE UP IN 2007
tax laws say that every Canadian resident abroad. Of course you can charge your rel-
must report his or her world income for atives a small rent, and then squatting no
each tax year. Also, if you own foreign longer applies.
property, say in Guyana,valued at over You can rent out your house to strangers,
$100,000 Canadian you must make that but then you have the big problem of being By Peter Seepersad
declaration every year. a landlord six thousand miles away. It does-
If you are earning income abroad from n’t work unless you have a reliable relative
rental of houses or land, interest from bank or friend back home to deal with tenant is- HOME buyers across the country willl breathe a sigh of relief in 2007, thanks to a na-
accounts, stocks and shares, then you have sues. tionwide influx of new listings that is expected to slow price appreciation in major Cana-
to declare that on your tax returns. If You can sell the house, but note that so dian centres.
Canada has a tax treaty with the country many Guyanese have migrated that there is The RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook 2007 found that while a number of homes listed
where you earn this income, you can get a a surplus of housing property on the mar- for sale is set to climb, demand will remain strong in the 17 markets surveyed, including
tax credit for any taxes paid there. ket. You may not get much for it, and some Toronto,Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg
If you sell any houses, land or other prop- people have found they got not offers at all. and several others. With few exceptions, projections for sales voumes in 2007 match or fall
erty abroad for more than you paid for it, Finally, you can leave the house empty. In short of peak performance reported in 2005 and 2006, with more balanced conditions ex-
then you probably have a capital gain. You that condition it will decay rapidly. Squat- pected to emerge. These conditions should include healthy inventories of houses and
must declare that on your income tax return ters may come and live in it, and claim it apartments, and less urgency in the market.
in Canada. You can get in serious trouble for their own. It’s hard to get them out when Nationally, about 462,000 properties are forecast to change hands in 2007, making it the
for failing to declare income from overseas. you are living in Canada. third best year on record. Average house prices are predicted to climb by a modest five
The best way to manage your overseas as- Land doesn’t deteriorate, but empty land percent this year to $290,000 by December 2007.
sets depends on your short term and long attracts squatters as much as empty houses. Strong economic fundamentals continue to fuel healthy residential real estate activity in
term goals. If your short term plan is to es- There are no easy answers when it comes markets across the country, despiten what is happening in the United Sates. The country
tablish yourself quickly in Canada where to property abroad, and you might find it is heading into another year of economic growth. Consumer confidence levels are strong.
you now live, then it makes sense to sell useful to talk to somebody with expert Unemployment levels are forecast to remain low. Oil prices are expeced to hover at $60
your property in Guyana and bring the knowledge and experience of the Guyana per barrel. The Canadian dollar continues to climbl The Bank of Canada is holding the line
money here to help you with things like situation. on interest rate hikes.
buying a house, investing or opening a busi- Affordability is one of the more serious issues facing today’s real estate consumer, yet
ness. Readers with specific problems related to purchasers remain steadfast. Buyers are simply getting more creative in their approach to
If you have a long term goal of building property are advised to seek advice from a homeownership, considering alternatives to single-detached homes such as semi and row
wealth in Canada and then resettling back tax accountant who will take a detailed housing, town houses, and condominium apartments. They’re also looking at peripheral
in the old country, then it makes sense to look at their special circumstances. areas located close to the city centre that provide a better bang for the buck. New mort-
keep the properties abroad. You should note gage products that extend the traditional 25-year mortgage amortization period to 30 and
that although nearly all of us come to Gulcharan Mohabir is a tax specialist based 35 years may also help them realize their goal of owning a home sooner than later.
Canada with the intention of returning to in Toronto, Ontario.
the old country, most change their minds Peter Seepersad is a realtor attached to RE/MAX Rouge RiverRealty Brokerage,tele-
after a few years. phone 416-286-3993
Some estate planning Compared to what occurs in many similar one dies. "Canadians are hung up on saving you if you're incapacitated by illness. The
of fighting later
says Les Kotzer, a Toronto lawyer and au- sonous issue is the hurt feelings that can be you're leaving behind young children or a
thor specializing in wills and estate plan- left behind." substantial tax bill.
ning. "Brothers spitting on brothers. Sisters Most of the pain can easily be avoided. If What should unite all of these documents
By Donna Green
who never speak to each other again. All you're willing to spend eight to 12 hours is an understanding of your family's feel-
because of wills that were never done or preparing a plan, you can take a giant step ings. Experts can advise you on tax and
When my grandfather died last year, his
that were incomplete." toward ensuring that you leave behind a legal matters, but no one knows your loved
will left everything he owned to his daugh-
It doesn't take much to set off a family loving, united family rather than a squab- ones better than you do. A small amount of
ters. For his two sons, the hurt was swift
feud. Badly worded clauses, incompletely bling clan at odds with one another. time spent communicating your intentions
and deep. My grandfather had never dis-
expressed intentions, or out-of-date provi- Apply a little bit of expert advice and you now can avoid leaving your kin with an
cussed his estate plan with his male off-
sions can ignite brawls that last for decades. can simultaneously save your heirs a bundle eternity of questions. Just ask my family.
spring and they are still trying to figure out
Sometimes the argument is about which son of money and enjoy the peace of mind that
what the family patriarch meant by cutting
gets his father's war medals. comes with knowing you're doing the best
them out of their inheritance.
Sometimes it's because the daughter who for the people you value the most.
Did he think his sons wouldn't need his
spent years caring for an elderly parent On paper, an estate plan consists of four (From the article “Estate planning made
money because they're wealthy while his
thinks she's not getting enough money — documents. The first is a will that details easy” by Donna Green
daughters are not? Or was he signaling that
or she's getting too much, in the opinion of how your property will be divided. The next From the February/March 2003 issue of
he valued his daughters more than his sons?
the other siblings. Whatever the specifics, two documents are powers of attorney — MoneySense magazine)
It's a mystery that can never be solved and
the problem always comes back to the pow- one for property, one for personal care —
it has left behind a bitter residue.
erful emotions that are vented when a loved that spell out who can make decisions for
COMMUNITY Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 15
ANNOUNCEMENTS It’s the real thing- karate in the Vedic temple in Markham
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 50
Plus and Seniors Association celebrate
Black History Month and the 11th an-
niversary of the group at their monthly
meeting Sunday February 25 at 1.30
p.m. at the Birkdale Community Centre,
1299 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough. The
group was founded 11 years ago on Feb
11, 1996 by Rasheed Sultan Khan and
other TT seniors. There will be a guest
speaker for Black History Month, which
is celebrated every February in Canada.
For info contact Public Rellations Officer
Rasheed Sultan Khan at 416-281-5264.
HOLI CELEBRATIONS
Many martial arts clubs talk about temple tice in a temple, as his style of karate em- fighting but on developing inner strength
DEVI MANDIR celebrates Holi with a kung-fu or Shaolin style of fighting that phasizes spirituality and mental develop- and character that will discourage attackers
Holi Mela on Saturday March 3 at 7.00 started in a Buddhist temple. ment in the martial arts. and allow a smaller person to deal with the
p.m. at the mandir on 4590 Brock Road, But the Shorin Ryu Dhyaan Karate Dojo is A temple is an appropriate place to work often larger bully.
Pickering. Holi is also known as Phagwa probably the only one that actually prac- out because karate was started in the Almost half the class is female, two of
in the Caribbean.. The event will feature tices in a genuine functioning temple. Shaolin Buddhist monastery in China by whom are brown belts, the rank just below
chowtal singing, bhangra dancing,, film Every Monday and Thursday members of the Indian Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. black. One of Harry’s teachers is a female
songs and other entertainment. Admis- the dojo gather in the Hindu temple run by Several of the karate students are Hindus black belt. Several of the men are in their
sion is $10. For info call 905-686-8534. the Vedic Cultural Centre on Kennedy and who belong to the Vedic temple, among fifties or older, and there is a large group of
14th Avenue in Markham, to work out with them the president of the Toronto Arya teens and pre-teens.
RAM MANDIR at 270 Export Blvd, Sensei Harry Persaud. Samaj, Adit Kumar. Practice starts with The message is that anybody can practice
Mississauga holds its Holi Puja on Harry, who holds a third degree black belt meditation, sometimes in front of the altar. karate. It is a system for the weaker or
in the Matsubayashi style of Shorin Ryu It’s been going very well, according to smaller person to overcome challenges
March 3 at 6.00 p.m.
along with a PhD, has been training stu- Harry. There is a stable core of students from larger and stronger people using min-
On Sunday March 4 there is a Holi Mela
dents for the last five years, and is coming who come out regularly and learn this style imal force and strength.
from 1.00 p.m at the Versailled Banquet
close to graduating his first black belts from of karate that focuses on knowledge and Harry is hoping to see more temples and
Hall, 6721 Edwards Boulevard, Missis- the dojo.
A KIDNEY
By Dr Rakesh Modi maintain and nourish
the body. They are
seven in number, LIVING within 500 metres of a major
Everything in this universe is composed
namely - chyle, highway can damages children's lungs, ac-
of five elements. The human body is also
blood, muscles, fatty cording to a new eight-year study of more
made up of the five elements and the soul.
tissues, bone, mar- than 3,600 children in Los Angeles. Ten-
These five elements are:
row and semen. year olds growing to adulthood within 500
Proper amount of meters of a freeway were far more likely to
1. Prithvi or earth
each dhatu and its have stunted lung development than others
2. Apa or water
balanced function is Rakesh Modi living an additional 1000 meters distant, a
3. Tejas or fire
very important for good health. team of American researchers led by W.
4. Vayu or air
James Gauderman of the University of
5. Akash or space
Mala - These are the waste materials pro- Southern California.
duced as a result of various metabolic ac- The children near the highways showed
What does it mean? The body is a muddy
tivities in the body. They are mainly urine, much greater risk of lung disease ranging
pond with a fire in the middle, with clouds
feces, sweat, etc. Proper elimination of the from increased rates of asthma to more se-
on top and a wind blowing across! No, it
malas is equally important for good health. rious, potentially fatal illnesses. And it was-
doesn't mean that. It means that these five
Accumulation of malas cause many dis- n't only children with frail lungs who were
elements are the basic constituents and
eases in the body. affected. NALINI Maharaj really, really needs a
everything can be explained in terms of
Otherwise-healthy children who were non- kidney sometime soon if she is to survive
these five elements. For example, the bulky
Srotas - These are different types of chan- asthmatic and non-smokers also showed a to see her two children grow up. She’s hop-
and solid part is earth, the digestive en-
nels which are responsible for transporta- marked decrease in lung function from traf- ing that somewhere out there is that super
zymes which are responsible for cooking or
tion of food, dhatus, malas and doshas. fic pollution. generous person who will give her one.
digesting is fire, the hollow, empty parts
Proper function of srotas cause many dis- The study was based on the yearly testing The 36 year old Mississauga woman is
and the big beer belly is space.
eases. of 3,677 children, from 12 Los Angeles running out of time. Her own kidneys
These five elements in their biological
communities, over an eight-year period be- began failing ten years ago and stopped
form in the living body are of three differ-
Agni - These are different types of enzymes ginning from the age of ten. Lung function working completely in 2003. She now goes
ent kinds. These are three primary life
responsible for digestion and transforming was measured by seeing how much air each to the hospital three times weekly for four
forces or three biological humors. The
one material to other. child could exhale -- and how quickly -- hour dialysis sessions that clean her blood
Ayurvedic term for these forces is Dosha.
after taking a deep breath, along with of toxins and impurities. But she is still sick
As they are three in number they are called
All these factors need to function in a other tests. much of the time and finding it difficult to
as Tridosha (Tri means Three). In Sanskrit
proper balance for good health. They are The children were divided into three work or to maintain the home with husband
they are known as : Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
inter-related and are directly or indirectly groups depending on how close they lived Puran and 16 year old son Amit and 20 year
As these are specific terms or names of the
responsible for maintaining equilibrium of to a major highway (or freeway as they are old daughte Gaitri.
three types of humors in the body it is not
the TRIDOSHA. called in California), less than 500 meters, Normally, people like Nalini would find
possible to translate them into English.
_____________________________ between 500 and 1000 meters, and between donors within the family. Her relatives in
They can be understood, experienced or felt
1000 and 1500 meters. her home country Trinidad share a family
only from their qualities, behavior and RAKESH R. MODI, B.A.M.S., D.Ac.,
Several elements in vehicle exhaust can history of high blood pressure and kidney
actions in the body. The nearest translation, Dr.Ac., M.Ac., M.Ac.F., C.A.H.P., is an
damage lung tissue, but the most harmful disease that eliminates them as donors. Her
meaning or comparative of these terms de- Ayurvedic Physician & Lecturer, Certified
are nanoparticles with organic hydrocarbon husband Puran offered to donate a kidney
pending upon their qualities, actions and Holistic Practitioner, and PanchaKarma
components on the surface, present in far but he was ruled out because of high blood
behavior are: Specialist. He is , Director of Research &
higher concentrations near freeways. pressure. She has no close relatives in
Vata is compared to air, Pitta is compared Development and Event Management for
The study suggests that there may be Canada.
to fire and Kapha is compared to mucus and International Council of Ayurvedic Physi-
something in particular about primary emis- She has two options- getting an organ do-
water. cians (ICAP) Inc., and Director of Interna-
sions -- fresh emissions -- that are particu- nation from someone who has died after
This was amazing! You never knew the tional Institute of Ayurveda &
larly dangerous" as compared to settled signing a donor card, or getting a kidney
construction of the body is so natural. The Complimentary Medicines (IIACM) Inc.
pollution. Also of special interest is the from a living donor.
next part will make you friendlier with your www.AyurvedToronto.com
study's conclusion that diesel fuel is espe- Nalini is urging Canadians to become
body. 416-778-9341
cially hazardous because of its high con- more aware of the organ donation program
centration of particulate-matter. and to sign the card. It can be obtained from
ITS OFFICIAL: TURMERIC osteoporisis. Professor Robert Moots, pro- Fairfield, Iowa.
any doctor or from the Ministry of Trans-
portation. Organ donation allows a person
IS GOOD FOR ARTHRITIS fessor of rheumatology at Liverpool Uni- “This finding that the disease process in to give a gift of life after he or she has gone.
versity and spokesman for the Arthritis the arteries can be reduced through the TM Nalini is high on the waiting list for kidney
Extract of turmeric commonly used in Research Campaign, said people with program may have vast implications for the donations but there is no certainty if or
curry could help prevent rheumatoid arthri- arthritis will have to wait to see if the study current management of cardiovascular dis- when she can get a donated kidney.
tis and osteoporosis, according to US re- results in new treatments. ease and health care costs,” says Amparo Secondly, she wants to ask any persons
searchers. "It will come as no surprise if naturally oc- Castillo-Richmond, M.D., lead author of willing to help her to come forward to be
Turmeric has been used for centuries in curring compounds have a drug-like ef- the study and assistant professor of medi- tested for compatibility. “I believe thare are
Asian medicine to treat inflammatory dis- fect," he said."I do not think there is any cine at the College of Maharishi Vedic people out there who are willing to give a
orders and its extract can be found in west- evidence that countries that eat a lot of Medicine. kidney to a perfect stranger. I am that
ern dietary supplements.Now lab work by turmeric have a lower frequency of rheuma- In the study, hypertensive African-Ameri- stranger and I need it,” she said.
University of Arizona researchers, in toid arthritis. So simply eating more spices cans who were at risk for cardiovascular Nalini is blood type AB, which means she
Arthritis & Rheumatism, shows just how is not likely to be effective clinically." disease were randomly assigned to either is a universal donor/receiver, so anyone can
the spice's curcuminoid extracts have a the TM program or to a health education donate a kidney once there is a close
therapeutic effect. control group. Sixty men and women vol-
Meditation: Good for
match between her and the donor.
Earlier work by the University of Arizona unteers completed pretests and post-tests All the person has to do is contact St.
team showed turmeric could prevent joint
inflammation in rats.A version of turmeric
the Arteries over an average intervention period of Michael’s Hospital Transplant Office (416-
about seven months. Subjects practicing the 867-3665) and say they are interested in
extract that was free of essential oils was TM program showed an approximate 11 helping Nalini Maharaj. Mary Anne at the
found to most closely match the composi- Learning to relax and reduce stress
percent decrease in risk of heart attack and Hospital (416-867-7460 ext. 8179) will
tion of the commercial supplements.And it through the practice of Transcendental
a 7-15 percent reduction in risk of stroke. take care of the rest.
was this extract, containing curcumin, that Meditation (TM) may reduce atherosclero-
Robert Schneider, M.D., another author of There is minimal risk to the donor, who
was most effective at blocking the onset of sis — and risk of heart attack and stroke —
the study and director of the NIH-sponsored must be healthy and free from high blood
rheumatoid arthritis in the rats. according to findings published in the
Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention pressure or diabetes. of the kidneys. Doc-
The extract appears to work by preventing March 2000 issue of the American Heart
at the College of Maharishi Vedic Medi- tors make a very small incision usingnbv
a protein that controls when genes are Association journal STROKE.
cine, says, “Cardiovascular disease is asso- keyhole surgery to remove the kidney, and
switched on or off from being activated in This is the first controlled study to suggest
ciated with psychological stress. Previous recovery time is usually two to three
the joint.Once the protein known as NF-KB that stress reduction by itself can reduce
research has found that the TM program de- weeks.
is activated, it binds to genes and increases atherosclerosis without changes in diet and
creases coronary heart disease risk factors, For more information you can contact
the production of inflammatory proteins, exercise, according to a team of researchers
including hypertension, oxidized lipids, Nalini or her husband Puran at 905-568-
which attack the joints. The team believes from UCLA, Charles R. Drew University
stress hormones and psychological stress, 4699.
turmeric extract could treat other inflam- of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles,
and is associated with reduced cardiovas-
matory disorders, including asthma, multi- and Maharishi University of Management
cular disease and death in African-Ameri-
ple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel and College of Maharishi Vedic Medicine in
cans and the general population.”
WOMEN Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 17
Dealing with wife abuse: Shilpa Shetty scores big in Britain
Recognizing the cycle of violence
Millions in job offers, marriage proposals, meeting with PM, Queen
SHE was already a well known Bolly-
By J. Jagessar wood film star when she came to Britain
last year to take part in the reality show
If you are in an abusive relationship and our spouses. We may even feel that we are Celebrity Big Brother. But since she won
your spouse is abusive towards you, there economically dependent on our husbands the show and outlasting the racism of some
are ways to see the violence coming that and we have to make sacrifices for our fam- of the English contestants, Shilpa Shetty
would allow you to take steps to protect ily and children. We think there is some has become one of the best known and ad-
yourself. deep tie with our spouses that is so sacred, mired Indians in Britian, and according to
People have studied the behaviour of vi- that we deny the violence. We tend to ac- the Bombay Times, was the "most recog-
olence and have observed what they call a cept it submissively and even try to hide it nised Indian face in the world".
“cycle of violence”. It starts with your from our relatives and friends. She could soon be one of the richest as
spouse beginning to find fault with every- If your partner does get out of control and well. Shilpa has received more than 200 of-
thing you do around the house. Example: hurts you physically in any way, then call fers of work - commercials, modelling, pre-
He complains the food is not tasty, supper is 911 immediately. Within recent years the senting, book deals, film roles, even a part
not ready on time, the house is a mess, the police have changed their attitudes and ap- in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of West "Shilpa currently has two films on the
laundry is not done etc. proaches to violence in the home. Gone are End musical Bombay Dreams - totalling floor, Anurag Basu 's Metro , produced by
He gets angrier and starts raising his voice, the days when the police took a hands-off £10 million or $22 million Canadian. UTV, and Anil Sharma 's Apne , both of
pointing his finger, brushing the food aside. attitude towards violence against women. Shilpa was the only Indian celebrity in the which are set to release this year."
He may start picking on the children as They no longer take the approach this is a Big Brother show, living under constant tel- While she will complete her two remain-
well. All this could happen after he had had privaet matter between husband and wife. evision surveillance with other British ing projects, she may not have much time
a few drinks. Nowadays, the law has been changed so if “celebrities”. or the inclination to do any more films as
The logical thing to do at this time to de- a spouse is violent towards his partner and The barely hidden racism of some of the of now."Bollywood will, however, be
fend yourself, argue with him- big mistake! she has reported it, the police would arrest British celebrities was soon visible to mil- watching very closely her progress in the
What you should do is to recognize the rise the violent partner without any questions lions who watched the show. Shilpa was Western world, because it can show what
in temper and move out of his way. Do not asked. was called "Shilpa Poppadom" and the "In- Indian stars can do," Adarsh added.
start an argument or get pulled into an ar- Many women have been known to flee dian" in the Big Brother house. One of Shilpa entered the Hindi film industry as
gument that he wants to make with you. If their homes due to spousal abuse and what them, Jane Goody, deliberately mispro- the long-legged beauty in a film that also
necessary, go to a relative's home for a day they have discovered is that had lost all fi- nounced her name Shetty. She was often re- marked the stardom of Shah Rukh Khan -
or two until he calms down. If you have nancial and legal benefits and privileges. duced to tears by rude and hostile remarks, 'Baazigar', in 1993. Since then, she has
children, get them out of his way as well. By recognizing the cycle of violence and but but did not respond in kind. By the time worked on close to 50 films but except for
Remember that the abuse starts with an getting out in the early stages of anger and she emerged, Jade Goody had become a a few stray hits has not been able to hit the
emotional outburst and ends with physical complaints before the violence could hap- pariah, pop star Jo O'Meara was on suicide top.Last year, she also tried her hand at tel-
violence. pen, you can save your marriage, seek help watch, model Danielle Lloyd had been evision, appearing as a judge on the dance
In our culture we deny things and feel we and counselling and get the financial ad- ditched by her soccer star boyfriend. She show ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’.
are socially and religiously dependent on vantages that are due to you. won the contest because of huge support Meanwhile, Shilpa has been approached
Family is everything
Then I reminisced: “Don’t you remember how you were such an outgoing
girl during our days at Indian Trust College? And how you went later on to
win the Miss Swimsuit Queen contest? ” By Ram Jagessar
Yes, vividly. Quite vividly,” she muttered.
“When have you come to Canada from Guyana? And since when have you Harry say the family phone back home and Mohan five nephew
Not working right Harry never see before.
started covering up?”
“In 1975. I came without the necessary immigration papers here. With all The phone only calling him
when they want money And they waiting in the airport
that racial discrimination that was going on in Guyana, who in their right with mini van to pick up
when they want advice
mind wouldn’t want to get away? I didn’t want to be another call girl of the when they want something. all them box Harry have to pay
Kabaka! Remember dem daze, Professor?” Sometimes they calling collect overweight for.
“So?”, I nodded. just to collect serious change
“Shortly thereafter, I got married in Toronto. Not that I was particularly in from Harry. Harry don’t get no vacation
love with the guy. But in this game of survival that is life, you gotta do wha Send it right away Harry when he go back home
you gotta do”. Western Union Every little problem
Then she protested: Don’t forget now. waiting since last year
drop in Harry lap
Where the devil were you all these years? I looked for you all over in Toronto
Boysie need false teeth Big brother from Canada will fix it.
for you. Then one day, our friend Toby mentioned that you were living some-
they calling Harry Harry paying for everything too
where in Winnipeg. But where? But really, I had no clue about your where- He have to treat the family
to pay the dentist.
abouts! I had lost touch with you.” Car get in accident When you have you must spend
Gazing at me from head to shoe, she resisted the urge to give me a hug. Call Harry to help out Not so?
Then Meena revealed: the situation
“Things were OK at first, but increasingly, my husband claimed he saw a Children want copy book and pencil Harry say he need a family break
vision of some kind. Gradually, he became more and more of a devout Mus- Harry will send from Canada A break from the family
lim man. A few years ago, he insisted that I observe a strict Arabian dress What they think, When the phone ring
code”. Waddya think? Harry have a gold mine use the call display
or a money tree up here? Let the machine take a message
“This sort of outfit even in cosmopolitan…secular…Canada, eh?” I re-
Don’t answer for a week
sponded involuntarily.
And they always singing this song Was out of town you know.
“He tells me that secularism and decadent moral values in Canada are fer- Let Boysie buy he own false teeth
When you coming down Harry?
tile ground for propagation of the religion of peace. He is obsessed with pray- Coming for Christmas? or else enjoy some serious porridge.
ing and reading.” she declared unabashedly. Coming for Divali?
Hmmm.... Coming for Carnival? Next vacation Harry
For fear of upsetting her, I refrained from the temptation of asking her if Coming for your vacation?
Heading for Cayo Largo, Cuba
she was the favourite wife. Bring down something nice for we
Second honeymoon in the sun
But baffled by this chance meeting, I inquired: “Where is your husband When you coming.
Come back relaxed
now?” Ah go send you a list.
Feeling good.
“Somewhere in the crowd”, she replied. Them Spanish people really
Then Meenakshi insisted, “I must be going, Professor”, as she hurriedly If anything will kill Harry
appreciate your hard currency.
is that list
concealed her face behind the veil, and melted mysteriously into the swelling
They want IPod and DVD
crowd and the sweltering summer heat. designer jeans
Now Harry have nothing against family
Family is everything
Harry can’t buy for heself
Was I daydreaming? Or are times really changing? He might call them from Cuba to say so
Hundred dollar basketball shoe
But the phone system not so good
Fancy sari from Gerrard Street
in Cayo Largo.
Maybe a nice digital camera
Not less than 5 megapixels
(From an upcoming collection of
Gifts for about fifty people
30 poems on Indo-Caribbean Life)
90 year old aji
SPORTS Indo-Caribbean Times M arch 2007 Page 21
CANADA A LONG SHOT TO RIA RAMNARINE As far as boxing goes, she waits on word
Best Wishes
and a Pledge of Support
to the Indo-Caribbean Times
from the
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