Caribbean Times 12.02.2016

Times 

Times 

One People Under The Sun 

PRODUCTION@CARIBBEANTIMESNEWS.COM | DECEMBER 1-14, 2016 | FREE 

Guyana leader reacts 

to $250 Billion Budget 

Barbados 

opposition says 

the injection of 

money into LIAT 

must stop 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, – Opposition 

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has described 

the GUY$250 billion budget 

presented by Finance Minister Winston 

Jordan as “the worst I have ever seen”. 

Jagdeo, a former finance minister, 

said that the fiscal package was ominous 

and that not much thought had gone 

into its formation. 

The Guyana government Monday 

presented a GUY$250 budget to Parliament 

outlining a series of new taxes and 

reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) by 

two percent. 

Jordan also announced that electricity 

and water supply will now attract the 

14 percent VAT. 

But Jagdeo, a former head of state, 

criticised the budget saying that the 

budget caters more for the rich than ordinary 

Guyanese. 

Jagdeo told reporters he would have 

been happier to see a fiscal package that 

was more supportive of efforts to spur 

economic growth and encourage investments. 

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo 

Continued on page 23 

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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, – Barbados 

has pumped up to $150 million into 

the beleaguered regional air carrier LIAT, 

Finance Minister Chris Sinckler said 

Tuesday. 

He explained this is how the Government 

of Barbados became the single largest 

shareholder with 49 percent equity as 

Barbados was given more shares in the 

airline which was unable to pay back the 

money. 

Sinckler made the disclosure as he 

led off debate of a resolution seeking the 

House of Assembly’s approval for $33 

million which the government has provided 

LIAT between the financial years 

2012-2013 and 2015-2016. 

The Finance Minister said Barbados 

has had to give LIAT money to either finance 

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equipment. 

“There’s still an outstanding amount of 

close to $100 million, potentially more, 

because I still have the staff investigating, 

trying to find out how many advances 

were made by the last administration to 

LIAT that would not have passed through

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NEWS 

3 

Extrajudicial 

killings in Jamaica 

Report reinforces calls for police reform 

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- It’s really nothing 

new. Extrajudicial killings by members of 

the Jamaica Constabulary Force have been 

a persistent human rights concern over decades, 

highlighted in numerous local and 

international reports, including the US State 

Department’s Human Rights Report. 

Now, add Amnesty International to that 

list. At a press conference in Kingston on 

November 23, 2016, Amnesty International 

unveiled its latest report on Jamaica: “Waiting 

in Vain: Unlawful Police Killings and 

Relatives’ Long Struggle for Justice”. 

Amnesty’s Americas Director, Erika 

Guevara-Rosas, noted in a press release: 

“If authorities in Jamaica are serious about 

tackling the country’s shocking levels of police 

killings and violence they must urgently 

promote a deep police and justice reform to 

address not only the number of police murders 

but the root causes of the problem.” 

The report goes beyond the basic, egregious 

injustice of the deprivation of citizens’ 

right to life by agents of the state; it also 

explores what Rodje Malcolm, advocacy 

manager with the human rights lobby group 

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), called a “web of 

human rights abuses” associated with the 

killings themselves that affect the victims’ 

families, friends and the wider community. 

These include various forms of harassment, 

threats and intimidation -- at home, 

at funerals and wakes, at hospitals and even 

in court. 

Malcolm was speaking at a small, informal 

evening event with family members 

and the human rights community following 

Amnesty International’s press conference. 

Shackelia Jackson (left) and Simone Grant at a community meeting following the release of Amnesty 

International’s report on extrajudicial killings in Jamaica. Jackson’s brother Nakeia was 

cooking in his kitchen on Orange Street, Kingston in January 2014, when he was killed by police; 

Grant’s brother, Matthew Lee, and two other young men were shot dead by the police while 

driving in Arcadia, Kingston, in January 2013. 

The gathering also put on an art exhibition 

and film screenings to highlight the problem. 

Malcolm pointed to a “culture of fear” 

that pervades impoverished neighborhoods 

and “does not even have a perpetrator”. The 

culture of “informer fi dead”, which dancehall 

deejay Buju Banton sang about back in 

1991, means that citizens refuse to report 

crimes or come forward as witnesses, for fear 

of either criminal gangs or the police -- or 

both. 

Photo by the author, used with permission 


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COMMENTARY 

It is normal for Political-Aspirants 

and Candidates 

to attract and cultivate 

cheer-leaders, cheer-followers, 

and cheering-spectators. 

Then in a more particular 

manner, those Aspirants 

and Office-seekers turn up 

with catch-phrases; catchthemes; 

catch-clauses; and applause-lines 

for the crowds to 

CHANT with. 

But after the Elections are 

over, the successful Aspirants/ 

Politicians quickly discover 

that the cheering-crowds are 

looking to have their desires 

and expectations satisfied as 

quickly as possible. 

The Elected-Ones also 

swiftly graduate to the reality 

that their cheering-crowds 

could be impatient campers 

who are looking for”Instant-Gratification”. 

The natural course that 

however follows, is that elected-Officials 

find out over time 

that there are lots of hurdles 

and obstacles in meeting deliveries 

that they made along 

campaign trails. 

So after being victorious 

at the November eighth elections, 

President(elect) Donald 

J,Trump has to start to 

deliver...I stop at DELIVER... 

because Mr. Trump does not 

only have to deliver to his supporters 

and followers, but He 

has to deliver to all of America. 

(Journalist-F.H.Buckley 

described Mr.Trump as a 

shape-shifter and the Agent of 

transformation). 

Usually, although crowds 

lend cheers to a variety of 

applause-Iines, deep down 

inside, the masses are mostly 

interested in their ‘Bread 

& Butter issues’, for example 

Jobs, Income Tax-Reductions 

and Student-Loan forgive- 

T’s on-going challenges.... 

BY CARLYLE HARRY 

ness. 

Mr.Trump’s jobs’ promises 

is on a good highway, 

because President Obama is 

leaving him a gift of a very 

strong economy which is 

close to full employment... 

Unemployment is at 4.9%, 

following months of healthy 

job production...While Median 

household income had 

risen significantly by 5.2% in 

2015...3.5 million people have 

been lifted out of poverty... 

And Housing start-ups are the 

highest in nine years. 

In spite of his advertised 

qualities Mr.Trump has to get 

things done, the Elected-One 

will have to start to deliver almost 

immediately on his lavish 

promises to various publics 

and constituents. 

PERSONAL-CONFLICTS 

The next big issue confronting 

Mr.Trump, is the 

future of his Multi-National 

Business Empire. 

Due to multiple media-reports 

about Mr.Trump and his 

family-members exerting diplomatic 

pressure(s) on foreign 

leaders in order to accomplish 

business and other benefits 

for their property-holdings 

around the Universe, there is 

increasing calls for the President(elect) 

to sell all of his 

businesses, in order to avoid 

conflicts of interest. 

Mr.Trump’s National and 

International possessions are 

not widely known, because he 

did not submit Tax-Returns 

prior to this year’s elections. 

The New York Post 

opined”Of all the issues facing 

the President-elect and his 

brain-trust, the question of 

In spite of his advertised qualities 

Mr.Trump has to get things done, 

the Elected-One will have to start 

to deliver almost immediately on 

his lavish promises to various publics 

and constituents. 

how to avoid conflicts of interest 

with his global businesses, 

might be the thorniest”. 

The Wall Street Journal’s 

Editorial Board concluded 

that there’s only one way for 

Trump to avoid being engulfed 

in litigation and investigations, 

and that is to sell 

off every piece of the entire 

Trump Organization, and 

place the proceeds in a true 

Blind Trust. 

HEALING 

Finally, may be the largest 

challenge now confronting 

Mr.Trump, is what he is going 

to do, in order to heal a divided 

United States of America. 

For a summary of those 

divisions, I shall rely on Governor 

Andrew Cuomo...In 

an address at the Abyssinian 

Baptist church in Harlem, 

on Sunday, November 20, 

Mr.Cuomo exclaimed”I come 

to you with a heavy heart, the 

ugly political discourse of 

the election, did not end on 

Election-day, in many ways, 

it has gotten worse, into a social 

crisis that now challenges 

our identity as a Nation 

and our people...The spike 

in hate crimes in New York 

and across the Nation, goes 

beyond politics, it questions 

our American character, who 

we are, and what we believe... 

If you sow fear, you reap hysteria”. 

The Southern Poverty Law 

Center has reported more 

than 500 cases of intimidation 

aimed at Blacks, People 

of color, Jews, Muslims, Immigrants 

and members of the 

LGBT community, since the 

election. 

Larry Sabato--Director 

of the Center for Politics at 

the University of Virginia 

said”Trump is situational 

more than ideological...He is 

going to be full of surprises” 

THE MEDIA 

After sixteen grueling 

months of campaigning 

that involved back-biting; 

name-calling; race-baiting 

and dirt-digging, divisive and 

hard fought ( verbal) battles, 

thank God, the elections are 

over. 

The Media-Houses can 

now return to bringing us the 

News. 

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NEWS 

7 

Caribbean welcomes 2.1 million 

Canadians in first half of 2016 

TORONTO, The Caribbean welcomed 

approximately 2.1 million Canadians 

during the first six months of 2016 Secretary 

General of the Caribbean Tourism 

Organisation Hugh Riley said. 

This represents a decline of 3.7 per 

cent when compared to the same period 

last year; and has been attributed to the 

depreciation of the Canadian dollar with 

respect to the US dollar. 

“We saw the numbers fall during each 

of the first six months, with the exception 

of May which was flat,” Riley told journalists 

here on Tuesday. 

“In the first quarter we recorded a decline 

of 3.9 percent, and a slightly better 

performance in the second quarter, 

which recorded a drop of 3.3 percent 

when compared to the same period in 

2015.” 

Eight of the 24 reporting destinations 

recorded growth, with highs of 24.9 percent 

in the Turks and Caicos Islands and 

14.1 percent in Suriname. 

Barbados, Curacao, Dominican Republic, 

Guyana, St. Maarten and St. Vincent 

& the Grenadines registered moderate 

growth. 

Cuba remained the top Caribbean destination 

for Canadians during the first 

half of this year, receiving over 527 thousand 

visitors, down 4.3 percent when 

compared to last year. 

InterCaribbean Airways increases airlift 

from Antigua to Tortola for winter schedule 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- Turks and 

Caicos Islands-based passenger carrier 

interCaribbean Airways has increased 

service connecting Antigua (ANU) and 

Tortola (EIS) as of November 14, 2016. 

As part of the winter schedule, the 

airline decided to increase connectivity 

between both islands to daily service. 

interCaribbean Airways passengers will 

continue to have the ability to connect 

with British Airways service to London. 

Trevor Sadler, CEO of interCaribbean 

Airways, said, “We remain committed 

to the Antigua market while we look for 

ways to better serve the needs of the market, 

while maintaining a profitable operation.” 

InterCaribbean Airways, founded 25 

years ago, is based in the Turks and Caicos 

Islands (TCI). The company operates 

a fleet of EMB 120, Twin Otters and BE99 

aircraft providing service from the TCI to 

Antigua, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, 

Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, 

Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. International 

services also include flights between the 

Dominican Republic and Haiti, and domestic 

flights operated in the TCI and 

Jamaica. 

Suriname will 

tow a giant bag 

of water to 

fight drought 

in Barbados 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, 

Auke Piek, a 44-year-old Dutch engineer, 

says he has a solution to the 

Caribbean’s worst drought in half a 

century — and it lies hundreds of 

miles away in the tropical rain forests 

of Suriname. 

This week, a boat will tow a giant 

bag made from PVC-coated 

fabric with enough water to fill an 

Olympic-size swimming pool from 

Suriname to drought-stricken Barbados 

and Curacao. It will be a test 

run for a technology Piek said he 

wants to expand to other Caribbean 

islands, and eventually, as far 

afield as the Middle East. 

“Water is our blue gold,” said 

Erlyn Power, Suriname representative 

for Piek’s company, Amazone 

Resources. “I visit islands 

where people are having their water 

turned off and here we have so 

much of it that it’s just flowing into 

the sea.” 

The drought that started early 

last year in the Caribbean shrank 

reservoirs across the region, forcing 

utilities from Trinidad & Tobago 

to Jamaica to ration water. 

For some islands, such as Cuba, 

it was the worst drought in more 

than 100 years. And this may just 

be the start. The Barbados Water 

Authority, which signed a memorandum 

of understanding for the 

test run but is not buying the initial 

shipment, said in a statement that 

the accord it part of its long-term 

plans to tackle the impact of global 

warming. 

Amazone has received the rights 

from Suriname’s government to 

pump water from the mouths of 

the Coppename and Suriname 

rivers, both of which meet World 

Health Organization standards, the 

company said. On Tuesday, the bag 

was being filled in the Suriname 

River, Piek said at a ceremony. The 

trip to Barbados was expected to 


Caribbean Times | December 1-14, 2016

8 

TOURISM 


First commercial flight from the US to 

Havana in more than 50 years lands in Cuba 

HAVANA, Cuba -- An American Airlines 

737 took off from Miami International 

Airport on Monday morning on 

the first regularly scheduled flight between 

Miami and the Cuban capital of 

Havana in more than half a century. 

“It’s a monumental day of great historic 

relevance with Miami being the epicenter 

of the Cuban American community 

and American’s hub for the region,” 

said Ralph Lopez, AA’s vice president for 

its Miami hub. “We’re excited to live in 

these exciting times and serve Havana.” 

American and several other airlines 

began flying regular routes to several Cuban 

cities outside the capital in late summer, 

but Monday’s flight was the first of 

the new Havana-bound service and the 

first of four daily flights American plans 

from Miami to Havana. Other flights 

from the US were also scheduled to arrive 

in Havana on Monday. 

With the addition of the Havana route, 

American now flies to six Cuban cities. 

“It’s early in the process [of opening 

the Cuban market], but we like where 

we are and that we have the most service 

to Cuba,” said Howard Kass, American’s 

vice president of regulatory affairs. 

The new flights are part of the Obama 

administration’s opening toward Cuba, 

but their future could be in jeopardy 

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada. The Chairman 

of the Grenada Tourism Authority 

(GTA) Mr. Rodney George has announced 

that Ms. Patricia Maher will be appointed 

as chief executive officer from December 

19. 

Ms. Maher is a senior executive with 

twenty-five (25) years of general management 

experience in the service industries 

and was a former country manager of 

Digicel Grenada Limited. She spent seven 

(7) years working in the Caribbean’s 

tourism sector as general manager for Go 

Caribic Tours and destination manager for 

the German LTU Group of Companies. 

Maher honed her marketing and sales 

skills while representing a large island destination 

at World Travel Market, ITB Berlin 

and CHTA’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace, 

as well as negotiating contracts with 

depending on President-elect Donald 

Trump’s Cuba policies. He has said he 

will unravel changes made by President 

Barack Obama unless Cuba makes political 

changes. 

In addition to American’s daily Miami-Havana 

flights, on Wednesday it 

is also adding service from Charlotte, 

tour operators and hosting travel agents. 

Ms. Maher’s role as CEO of the GTA 

will include the delivery of sustainable 

tourism and economic growth from key 

regional and international markets, and 

the development and execution of effective 

marketing strategies to increase the value 

of tourism in Grenada. 

“The board of directors are pleased to 

welcome Ms. Maher as CEO of the GTA 

North Carolina, to Havana. 

JetBlue plans to start its twice-daily 

service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood 

International Airport to Havana 

on Wednesday and from Orlando on 

Tuesday. 

On Thursday, Spirit Airlines will begin 

service from Fort Lauderdale, Delta Air 

in December. She has years of experience 

in business management, marketing, and 

tourism that will prove beneficial to our 

organisation. Leading the GTA is a great 

responsibility, accountable not only to the 

board of directors, the Minister of Tourism, 

and the Government, but also to the 

people of Grenada,” said Mr. George at a 

press conference at the GTA’s headquarters 

on The Carenage. 

Lines will launch service from Miami, 

New York’s JFK and Atlanta to Havana 

and Frontier also will have its inaugural 

flight from Miami to Havana. 

Southwest will begin offering 

twice-daily service from Fort Lauderdale 

to Havana on December 12.2016 

Grenada Tourism Authority has a new boss 

“The board of directors are pleased to welcome 

Ms. Maher as CEO of the GTA in December. She 

has years of experience in business management, 

marketing, and tourism that will prove 

beneficial to our organisation.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

9 

WHY SO MUCH SHOPPING 

Dear Editor, 

I am already amazed at the amount of 

shopping that people did both at stores 

and on-line for Thanksgiving. 

And already, some of my family-members, 

and colleagues in the office are 

talking about the amount of shopping 

that they still have to do for Christmas. 

I am growing to realize that shopping 

cuts across all races and classes. 

Another thing is that I recently learnt 

from a Documentary that millions of 

tourists come to New York each year, 

mainly to do shopping. 

Editor, I am aware of the economic 

benefits that shopping brings to a society, 

especially in terms of providing jobs, but 

I believe that in the same way that people 

have to go on diets, poorer persons 

should be taught to go on shopping restrictions, 

because many of them are living 

way above the means. 

 

— Sandra Vargas 

THE RECENT ELECTIONS 

Dear Editor, 

I have decided not to pay any more 

attention to the predictions of election 

pollsters, simply because they got the 

results of the November 8 elections, so 

wrong. 

I believe that their false predictions 

made a big contribution to Hillary Clinton 

losing the elections, because I believe 

that many of her supporters perhaps 

thought that there was no way that she 

would have lost those elections based on 

the reports that the pollsters were giving, 

and they did not bother to go out and 

vote. 

Those pollsters were reporting that 

there was no way that Mr. Trump could 

have found a path to the 270 college votes 

that were needed to win the Presidency. 

I find myself feeling sorry for those 

pollsters, because no one is going to believe 

them in the future, and they should 

start looking for new jobs. 

 

— Witty Burgen 

GETTING RID OF THE 

ELECTORAL COLLEGE 

I feel that the time has come to get 

rid of the electoral college, and replace 

it with some structure that will give the 

candidate with the most votes, the election 

victory. 

For example with this election, it appears 

as if Hillary Clinton is going to get 

close to three million votes more than 

Mr.Trump. but she is going to lose the 

November elections. 

I hope that if and when the time comes 

to amend the Constitution in order to 

change from the electoral college, that 

the elected politicians in the House and 

the Senate will vote their consciences and 

change that outmoded system. 

— Hartley Sam 


POETRY CORNER 

THANKS-GIVING 

Without this holiday, 

We would not pray. 

We would not say Thanks 

for money and food Banks. 

We would not say Thanks for life 

for a husband and wife, 

We would not thank breath, 

We would not avoid death. 

We say thanks for Thanksgiving, 

for we the living 

need to be grateful 

for our bodies and souls. 

It allows us to give gratitude 

and have the right attitude 

to a comfortable existence 

with appreciation and patience. 

We should give thanks daily, 

We should express thanks hourly, 

We should pray as we plan 

to occupy this land. 

 

— Carlyle Harry 

VOTING 

Please take note, 

we have to vote. 

We cannot have a choice 

without expressing our voice. 

I remind friends and family , 

that Trump defeated Hillary 

because of our complacency. 

What about the future? 

What about our policy treasures? 

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and the College students. 

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and needy for sure. 

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to show we care. 

 

— Mike Brutus 

Please submit your poems for 

consideration. We are here to take 

NOTE and to promote.

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HEALTH 

11 

What Prince Harry could tell 

caribbean men about HIV 

By Dr César Núñez 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, – This week 

Prince Harry started his second official 

visit to the Caribbean. Importantly, he’ll 

be commemorating World AIDS Day on 

December 1 with us here in the region. 

Prince Harry is among the new guard 

of global HIV ambassadors. In July he 

took to Facebook Live to do an HIV test. 

More than two million people watched 

as he confessed to being nervous before 

having his finger pricked. There was a 

surge in HIV testing in the United Kingdom 

as a result. The following week the 

prince travelled to the International 

AIDS Conference in Durban where he 

advocated on behalf of young people living 

with HIV, urging the global community 

not to become complacent. 

This visibility is critical at a time that 

the world has made a commitment to 

end AIDS by 2030 as part of the Sustainable 

Development Goals. That target isn’t 

as far-fetched as it sounds, especially for 

the Caribbean. We now have the tools to 

achieve epidemic control. We must ensure 

that people living with HIV know 

their status early and get on treatment 

early. The earlier a person living with 

HIV is diagnosed and starts treatment, 

the sooner his viral load can be reduced 

to levels that nearly eliminate the risk of 

passing the virus on to someone else. At 

the same time, targeted work must continue 

to prevent new infections and safeguard 

the human rights of people infected 

with, and affected by, HIV. 

To achieve this we are going to have 

to address our challenges with laser focus. 

We should ask ourselves, who is 

currently being left behind? In much of 

the Caribbean, one of the answers to that 

question is: ‘men’. In several countries including 

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, 

Guyana and St. Lucia, the HIV epidemic 

is male dominated. Men are more likely 

to take risks and less likely to get tested 

early. They too often go to the doctor 

only when their health is in serious decline 

and by that time they would have 

infected others. 

According to a 2016 Trinidad and Tobago 

report, while more females than 

males are showing up to get tested, more 

males are testing positive. In Belize two 

of every three HIV-related deaths in 

2015 were among males. In Barbados 

men have even been designated a key 

population by the National HIV/AIDS 

Commission. They constitute two-thirds 

of AIDS diagnoses and more than 70% of 

related deaths. 

But men often don’t think of themselves 

as being at risk. While in many 

Caribbean countries there are concentrated, 

often explosive, HIV epidemics 

among certain vulnerable groups, transmission 

rates among general populations 

are also relatively high. For example, a 

2012 Jamaica study found that while men 

who have sex with men would account 

for one-third of new HIV infections, 

more than half of all new cases would be 

among heterosexuals in monogamous relationships 

and those having casual sex. 

This week UNAIDS released its 2016 

World AIDS Day report which urges 

stakeholders to address the HIV vulnerability 

people face at different points in 

their lives. The report notes that throughout 

the world HIV programmes are fail- 



Guyana confirms outbreak of 

chicken pox at secondary school 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 25 

2016 – Guyana health authorities said 

that more than 100 cases of chicken 

pox have been recorded at a secondary 

school but has sought to assure students 

that the situation is “under control”. 

Public Health Minister George Norton 

said that 164 cases had been recorded 

last week at the Paramakatoi Secondary 

School dormitory and that while 

the situation is one which is “worrying” 

nevertheless it is, “under control.” 

He said the Public Health Ministry 

is working in collaboration with the 

Ministry of Education to contain the 

outbreak. 

Norton also disclosed that medical 

Continued on page 22

12 

HEALTH 


Don’t toss the floss! 

The Benefits of Daily Cleaning Between Teeth 

You may have seen or heard news stories 

suggesting that you can forget about 

flossing, since scientists lack solid evidence 

that you’ll benefit from cleaning 

between your teeth with a sturdy string. 

But many dentists may beg to differ. 

They’ve seen the teeth and gums of people 

who floss regularly and those who 

haven’t. The differences can be striking. 

“Every dentist in the country can look 

in someone’s mouth and tell whether 

or not they floss,” says Dr. Tim Iafolla, 

a dental health expert at NIH. Red or 

swollen gums that bleed easily can be a 

clear sign that flossing and better dental 

habits are needed. “Cleaning all sides of 

your teeth, including between your teeth 

where the toothbrush can’t reach, is a 

good thing,” Iafolla says. 

If dentists—and maybe even your 

personal experience—suggest that regular 

flossing keeps your mouth healthy, 

then why the news reports? It’s because 

long-term, large-scale, carefully controlled 

studies of flossing have been 

somewhat limited. 

Researchers have found modest 

benefits from flossing in small clinical 

studies. For instance, an analysis of 12 

well-controlled studies found that flossing 

plus toothbrushing reduced mild 

gum disease, or gingivitis, significantly 

better than toothbrushing alone. These 

same studies reported that flossing plus 

brushing might reduce plaque after 1 or 

3 months better than just brushing. 

But there’s no solid evidence that 

flossing can prevent periodontitis, a severe 

form of gum disease that’s the leading 

cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontitis 

can arise if mild gum disease 

is left untreated. Plaque may then spread 

below the gum line, leading to breakdown 

of bone and other tissues that support 

your teeth. Periodontitis develops 

slowly over months or years. Most flossing 

studies to date, however, have examined 

only relatively short time periods. 

Another research challenge is that 

large, real-world studies of flossing must 

rely on people accurately reporting their 

dental cleaning habits. And people tend 

to report what they think is the “right” 

answer when it comes to their health 

behaviors—whether flossing, exercising, 

smoking, or eating. That’s why 

well-controlled studies (where researchers 

closely monitor flossing or perform 

the flossing) tend to show that flossing is 

effective. But real-world studies result in 

weaker evidence. 

“The fact that there hasn’t been a 

huge population-based study of flossing 

doesn’t mean that flossing’s not effective,” 

Iafolla says. “It simply suggests 

that large studies are difficult and expensive 

to conduct when you’re monitoring 

health behaviors of any kind.” 

While the scientific evidence for flossing 

benefits may be somewhat lacking, 

there’s little evidence for any harm or 

side effects from flossing, and it’s low 

cost. So why not consider making it part 

of your daily routine? 

Talk to your dentist if you have any 

questions or concerns about your teeth 

or gums. If flossing is difficult, the dentist 

may recommend other ways to remove 

plaque between teeth, such as with 

a water flosser or interdental cleaners. 

“If you need help learning how to floss, 

or if you don’t think you’re doing it right, 

your dentist or hygienist will be happy to 

show you how,” Iafolla says. “It helps to 

know the proper technique.” 

Warning 

against using 

home testing 

kits for HIV/ 

AIDS 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad. The Ministry 

of Health Monday urged people not 

to use HIV home testing kits to determine 

whether or not they are suffering from the 

HIV/AIDS virus. 

In a statement, the Ministry said it has 

become aware of the kits are now available 

locally, but advised “members of the public 

who have concerns about their HIV 

status to get tested at a quality assured 

Ministry of Health testing site. 

“Persons using home kits not reviewed 

and approved by the Ministry may lead 

to self-diagnosis outside of a supportive 

environment where they can be linked 

to clinical services for follow up care for 

themselves or those that they care about.” 

Last week, Health Minister Terrence 

Deyalsingh said there are about 11,500 

people living with the disease here and 

that he was also encouraged by the increase 

in people going for testing which 

has been encouraging as the global target 

in eradicating HIV/Aids was by 2030. 

“More and more people have been testing 

themselves especially as we ramp up 

the number of testing sites. We are doing 

that across the country and we are working 

very closely with the NGOs,” Deyalsingh 

said. 

He said previous there was a lot of 

stigma and discrimination meted out to 

people with the disease but this seemed to 

have dwindled. 

In the statement, the Ministry of Health 

reiterates, that if a person has concerns 

about his/her HIV status, “please present 

yourself to a quality assured Ministry of 

Health testing site for further evaluation”.

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ENTERTAINMENT 

17 


Caribbean Christmas Celebration 

returns to New York 

Festive fever takes over Brooklyn on Sunday, December 11, 2016 

NEW YORK, NY – The festive fever 

is already in the air and is set to take 

over Brooklyn on Sunday, December 11 

when Braata Productions will celebrate 

its Fourth Annual Ole Time Grand Market 

at the Holy Family Church Auditorium, 

9719 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. 

Gates open at 4:30 pm and the concert 

will begin at 5:00 pm. 

The event, generally referred to as 

Christmas Market or Grand Market is 

a tradition that dates back many centuries 

in the island of Jamaica. Braata’s 

Ole Time Grand Market brings all the 

fun and excitement that is characteristic 

of this annual Christmas tradition, adding 

some extra flavor with the inclusion 

of a number of other Caribbean islands. 

Patrons in attendance can expect an immersive 

experience with food and craft 

vendors showcasing traditional fare from 

their native islands as well as a special 

Caribbean Christmas themed exhibit 

highlighting in a colorful and interactive 

display what Christmas in the Caribbean 

used to be like and continues to be like in 

some places. 

The highlight of the day though will be 

the cultural performance which Braata 

Productions has come to be known for. 

The nonprofit performing arts organization 

prides itself in always showcasing 

the best of Jamaican folk culture and by 

extension the wider Caribbean and this 

concert line up is no different. This year’s 

concert will include the award winning 

Braata Folk Singers, powerhouse songstress 

Ophelia Carter from Jamaica, 

Smax Music representing Haiti, GAMAE 

Garifuna Performing Arts Company representing 

St Vincent & the Grenadines by 

way of Belize, Kizzy’s Playhouse with traditions 

from Trinidad and Tobago plus 

balladeer Andrew Clarke. 

“It was important in sharing the Caribbean 

Christmas experience that we 

including the entire region. Even though 

Grand Market is traditionally a Jamaican 

experience, we can learn from Braata’s 

Ole Time Grand Market that there is so 

much that connects us as people of African 

descent living in these different 

islands. Therefore celebrations like this 

help to bring to the fore the many things 

we share in common while enlightening 

us to other things of significance that we 

may not be aware of,” Founder of Braata 

Productions & Festival Producer Andrew 

Clarke noted. 

Another feature of the evening that 

many patrons have come to enjoy is the 

parade of a traditional Jonkanno Band. 

To round out the evening’s activities, 

there will be a Christmas cake eating 

contest, Christmas family portrait photography, 

the popular Kiddies Christmas 

grab bag and health screenings by the 

Caribbean Nurses Group. 

To learn more about Braata Productions 

or to purchase tickets for Ole Time 

Grand Market visit www.braataproductions.org

18 

ENTERTAINMENT 


Magical performances from Freddie McGregor 

& Marcia Griffiths at Resort World Casino 

NY: Veteran reggae crooner Freddie 

McGregor once again proved his top 

billing in New York with a stellar performance 

that not just dazzled patrons but 

left some saying it ranks as one of his best 

in recent memory. 

The 'Big Ship Captain" created an immediate 

spark with his opening salvo "I 

See It In You" and thereafter effortlessly 

connected with fans - especially the ladies 

- as he crooned "If You Wanna Go," 

"Push Come To Shove," "Stop Loving 

You," "Let Them Try," "Born A Winner" 

and "Prophesy." More hits flowed and 

the crowd - which had by now swelled 

to thousands - was loving the vibes. "Big 

Ship" was perfectly executed, garnering 

raptors applauds from patrons who sang 

along word for word. Current hit "True 

To My Roots," which has charted in New 

York, Florida, Jamaica and Europe had 

to be pulled up to appeased an appreciative 

audience that was by now bursting 

at the seams. Other tracks from the 

newly minted album also warmed hearts 

and provided proof that despite Freddie's 

longevity in the business, he still has 

the wear-it-all to delivered in a big way. 

The icing on the cake came when the 

veteran crooner was joined by Reggae 

Queen Marcia Griffiths, the two rousing 

the crowd with 'United We Stand' that 

Marcia first recorded with Bob Andy in 

the 60s and which was later re-recorded 

with McGregor for the album 'Comin' In 

Tough.' 

"I am very happy I could have come 

here tonight and executed in a big way 

for my New York fans" McGregor told 

Caribbean Times after his performance. 

Early next year he will embark on a club 

tour in Europe to promote 'True To My 

Roots.' He then heads to Zimbabwe, 

Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and the Ivory 

Coast for performances there before he 

returns to Europe for performances at 

the annual summer festivals. 

Griffiths, who had performed a solo 

set earlier, charmed fans with "Feel Like 

Jumping," "Melody Life," "Electric Slide" 

and "Truly." Midway her set he son Taff 

joined her for "All My Life." Marcia, still 

looking young and vibrant, first gained 

international recognition with Bob Andy 

in 1970 with their cover of Nina Simone’s 

“Young, Gifted and Black”, which sold 

1/2 million copies in the UK and Europe. 

She later toured the world with Bob 

Marley and the Wailers as a member of 

the I-Threes before hitting the Billboard 

chart as a solo act with her monster hit 

'Electric Slide.' 

The event billed Jamaica’s 50th anniversary 

Rocksteady concert, ‘Rewind 

To Rocksteady was presented by Irish 

& Chin at the Resort World Casino in 

Queens, NY and also featured British 

broadcaster/selector David Rodigan and 

Ninja Crown from the award winning 

Mighty Crown Sound.

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MUSIC 


Christianity/Rastafarian song by Sasha/ 

By Anthony Turner 

One of the hottest songs currently making 

the rounds on reggae radio in Jamaica 

is 'Sticky Situation' that was recorded 

by reggae turn gospel artiste Sasha and 

Rastafarian DJ Chuck Fenda. The song is 

a playful banter that talks about a possible 

relationship between the two and the 

conflicts that could accompanies such a 

union. 

'Yes it is a controversial song but it is a 

real situation that many people face that 

we need to talk about' Sasha told Caribbean 

Times. 

In explaining how the song materialized 

Sasha said 'Me and Chuck Fenda link 

up and started reasoning about doing a 

song together and I came up with the idea 

about the subject Christianity/Rastafarian. 

We went into the studio and hooked 

Chuck Fenda Stirs Controversy 

up with Marvin and Black Pearl the producers 

and we created the tune" she noted. 

"If you really look in the churches, 

80 percent of the congregation are females, 

15 percent are married men and 

5 percent are single men. When single 

christian women go out there and face 

the world, they meet men with different 

beliefs and different cultures....Knowing 

the Church and the principles, I believe 

that with God, all things are possible. Just 

maybe that individual can be taught the 

way of Christianity and have a change of 

heart if given a chance rather than shutting 

the door on them. I am basically putting 

a mike under a situation that many 

people face and they are afraid to talk 

about. People fall in love and their beliefs 

keep them separated" she reasoned. 

In 2004 Sasha had one of the biggest 

tracks globally with "I'm Still In Love 

With You," a duet with Sean Paul for his 

Dutty Rock album on Atlantic Records. 

I am basically putting a mike under a situation 

that many people face and they are afraid to 

talk about. People fall in love and their beliefs 

keep them separated. 

The song topped reggae charts and peaked 

at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

Sasha recently returned from performances 

in Canada, England, Italy and 

Dubai. She is currently in Jamaica recording 

tracks for a soon to be completed 

new album. 

Parang in the diaspora 

By Gerry Hopkin, JD 

Parang, Soca Parang and Chutney Parang, 

are seasonal, folk musical genres of 

the southern Caribbean, annually performed, 

listened to and danced to, from 

the beginning of October to the end of 

December. 

Uniquely orchestrated in Trinidad and 

Tobago initially, as a result of the influence 

of the Spaniards who governed from 

1498 to 1797, as well as through contact 

with Venezuelans who migrated to this 

twin-island state in the 19th century, this 

genre has evolved and bifurcated. 

Soca Parang and Chutney Parang, 

evolved from Parang, while incorporating 

other musical influences, thus making 

it a rich confluence of rhythms, harmonizations, 

orchestrations, storytelling, 

expressive gestures and dance moves. 

The English lyrics of the Soca Parang 

and Chutney Parang, are not always centered 

on the purpose of the season (the 

nativity), which tends to be the case with 

the mostly Biblical, Spanish lyrics of original 

Parang. 

Nevertheless, Soca and Chutney Parang 

stylistically maintain most of the 

basic musical structures of Parang with 

some variations, while they both generally 

impart melodious narratives about the 

merriment of the season and the current 

‘brango’ happenings of local life. In fact, 

the word “Parang” is derived from “Parranda,” 

a Spanish word meaning “merrymaking.” 

In the Caribbean today, Parang, Soca 

Parang and Chutney Parang are most 

evident in Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada 

(especially in Carriacou), Venequela, 

St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Barbados 

and Guyana; while in the Diaspora, 

these genres are enjoyed especially in 

New York, mostly by Trinidadians, Gre- 

“So get your dancing 

shoes ready, along 

with the ham, the 

black cake, the pastels, 

the bun, the rum, the 

ginger beer and the 

sorrel -- as we Parang 

our way to Christmas, 

without forgetting the 

reason for the season.” 

nadians, Vincentians and Bajans, who 

collectively perpetuate the religiosity, 

the sweetness and the niceness of these 

genres. 

Simply put, Parang and Pa- 

Continued on page 21

SPORTS 

Controversial sports program may 

be linked to lawyer’s assassination 

21 


PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- In June 

2012, the former People's Partnership 

government in Trinidad and Tobago, 

led by then prime minister, Kamla Persad 

Bissessar, launched a program called 

“Rio 2016: The Journey Begins Now”, 

which was drafted and created by the 

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee 

and then advisor to the prime minister, 

Gary Griffith, to assist local athletes 

representing Trinidad and Tobago in the 

Rio Olympics. 

However, the entire design and implementation 

of the program changed 

when the project was handed over to the 

ministry of sport, resulting in the then 

minister of sport, Anil Roberts, taking 

the program to help and educate underprivileged 

young men in society, under a 

new name: Lifesport. 

What started out as a worthy and 

benevolent social program was transformed 

by questionable management 

into a vehicle for murders, money laundering 

of hundreds of millions of dollars 

of state funds and financing of criminals 

by government for illegal purposes. 

Now it appears that the 2014 assassination 

of prominent local lawyer, former 

senator Dana Seetahal, may be linked 

to individuals financed by the Lifesport 

program, which was riddled with claims 

of criminals running the program and 

hundreds of millions of dollars being diverted 

to criminals to purchase arms and 

contraband -- some of the many issues 

that Seetahal was investigating. 

Seetahal was a former state prosecutor, 

senior counsel, a down to earth individual, 

a woman who made everyone she 

interacted with feel special, a prosecutor 

who developed one of the strongest legal 

portfolios in Trinidad and Tobago by 

heading some of the highest profile cases 

in the nation, but at the same time developing 

a list of potential, political and 

powerful enemies. 

Her frequently expressed and strongly 

held principles resonated with many in 

Trinidad and Tobago, especially in relation 

to extreme inequality, which corrupts 

politics, hinders economic growth 

and stifles social mobility; it fuels crimes 

and violent conflicts; it touches a moral 

nerve in threatening the very existence of 

mankind, the very health of democracies. 

When political and economic power is 

captured by weak elites, they undermine 

the institutions necessary for a fair and 

unbiased society. Critically, the rapid rise 

The late Dana Seetahal 

of extreme economic inequality stands in 

the way of eliminating global poverty. 

On May 3, 2014, minutes before midnight, 

security video footage showed Seetahal 

leaving the Ma Pau Casino, nestled 

among other bars, clubs and eateries in 

the middle class environment of Woodbrook, 

Port of Spain. She was a frequent 

visitor to the casino, as one of her very 

few forms of relaxation. 

Driving her Volkswagen Toureg SUV, 

Seetahal headed towards Wrightson 

Road in Port of Spain and her apartment 

in One Woodbrook Place. However, her 

short drive home was interrupted when 

a Nissan Wingroad wagon suddenly 

stopped in front of her, coming to an 

abrupt stop in front of the Woodbrook 

youth facility on Hamilton Holder Street, 

a complex of mainly grey buildings with 

a basketball court and soccer field. 

A panel van pulled alongside Seetahal’s 

Volkswagen and two men emerged, one 

carrying a pistol and the other a 5.56 calibre 

assault rifle. This high powered rifle 

is a weapon used by NATO forces and is 

designed exclusively for military use. 

Seetahal was shot five times. Twice 

in the head, twice on her right forearm, 

which she lifted to protect herself, and 

once in the chest. She was shot at such 

close range that there was visible gunshot 

residue on her face. The quiet neighbourhood 

was shocked out of bed by the 

sounds of crackling gunfire. 

At 12:05 am on May 4, 2014, Seetahal 

was dead, the victim of a brutal murder 

described as a local JFK assassination. 

A mathematician has theorised that, 


PARANG 

Continued from page 20 

ranging, are to Christmas in Trinidad & 

Tobago, Grenada and St. Vincent and the 

Grenadines, what traditional carols and 

community caroling are to Christmas in 

America. 

Today, Parang shows have become an 

anticipated feature of the Christmas experience 

in New York and elsewhere for 

Parang lovers, thanks to a great extent 

to the organizing contributions of Trinidadian-American, 

Thomas “Captain” Jacobs, 

his colleagues and other like-minded 

promoters. 

Thirty years ago, Jacobs forged the establishment 

of the Brooklyn Parang Association, 

which stages Parang and Soca 

Parang shows annually, in conjunction 

with the collective known as Five Boro 

Parang Lovers. 

According to Jacobs, the objective is 

“to maintain a sense of cultural continuity 

and connection” for Caribbean Parang 

lovers living in the Diaspora. Dubbed 

“The Original Parang Festival-Wild Meat 

Style,” this year’s show is carded for December 

3rd, at Tropical Paradise Ballroom 

in Brooklyn. 

This year, one of the hottest Caribbean 

bands playing Parang and Soca Parang in 

Brooklyn is Todo En Uno Caribeño (All 

in One Caribbean), led by Lennox Picou 

and Merlita London-Picou, who back in 

late October released the song, “We Paranging,” 

which very quickly became one 

of the best 2016 Soca Parang hits in Trinidad 

& Tobago. This song was produced 

by Lennox, with lyrics written by Barnett 

“Preacher” Henry, and arrangements 

done by Dr. Leston Paul. The background 

singers are Cheryl Vincent (aka Cheryl 

V) and Keith “Designer” Prescott. 

Over the years, several bands and solo 

artistes singing Parang and it’s derivative 

genres, have graced audiences in New 

York. This list has included the likes of 

Todo En Uno Caribeño, Los Tocadores, 

San Jose Serenaders, Los Pajaros, Lara 

Brothers, Parang Queen Daisy Voisin 

with La Divina Pastora, Las Reinas de 

La Cancion Parang Band, King Ajamu, 

Adesh Samaroo, Toronto Scrunter, Lennox 

Picou, Cheryl V and Merlita London-Picou. 

Todo En Uno Caribeño will be doing a 

live performance on December 3rd, at the 

Royal Empress Banquet Hall in Queens. 

“So get your dancing shoes ready, 

along with the ham, the black cake, the 

pastels, the bun, the rum, the ginger beer 

and the sorrel -- as we Parang our way to 

Christmas, without forgetting the reason 

for the season,” says Caribbean Times 

publisher, Mike Babwar, himself a parrandero.

22 


WHAT’S HAPPENING 

WITH CARYLE HARRY 

CASWA 13th annual 

fundraiser 

The Caribbean American Social Workers 

Association (CASWA) is holding 

its thirteenth annual fund-raising 

breakfast on Saturday, December 

tenth from 10.00 a.m, at St.Mark’s 

United Methodist church, 2017, Beverly 

Road...For information, call Elsa Cum 

at 718-864-5368. 

Capture of sea turtles 

banned 

St .Vincent and the Grenadines has 

joined the list of countries that has 

banned the capture of sea turtles. 

Holiday party 

The Linden Fund-USA and the Ituni 

International Association are holding a 

Holiday party on Saturday, December 

17, at 325, Ralph avenue, Brooklyn...For 

information, contact Ernest Joseph at 

917-753-7033. 

Global non-profit seeks to 

increase region’s technical 

capacity 

A global non-profit organization--the 

Internet Corporation for Assigned 

names and Numbers(ICANN) is teaming 

up with the Caribbean Network 

Operators Group to increase the 

region’s technical capacity. 

GCA host a Christmas party 

for 100 children 

The Guyana Cultural Association is 

holding a Christmas party for 100 children 

on Sunday, December 18th from 

4.00 to 8.00 p.m.at the St. Stephen’s 

church on Newkirk avenue. 

Film Fest 

The African Diaspora International 

Film Festival (ADIFF) is hosting its 

twenty-fourth display edition from 

November 24th to December 11th.. 

The display is going to feature a total 

sixty-six films from thirty different 

countries, including the United States 

premieres. 

The display will be held at three venues 

in Manhattan. 

8 Caribbean countries to 

receive U.S. $8 million 

A display from fundraiser in 2015. 

Director of the Basel Convention 

Regional Centre for Training and 

Technology Transfer for the Caribbean 

has announced that eight Caribbean 

countries are going to receive U.S.$ 8 

million to combat exposure to toxics 

that are found in household cleaning 

products, processed foods, and 

clothing. 

Dutch Tradition of Santa 

Claus 

The Wykoff Farmhouse Museum is 

hosting a Dutch Tradition of Santa 

Claus on Saturday December third at 

5816 Clarendon road from 1.00 to 4.00 

p.m. 

Holiday celebration 

The 69th Precinct Community Council 

is holding its annual holiday-celebration 

from 8.00 p.m. on Friday, December 

9th at the Thomas Jefferson 

Democratic Club, 77 Conklin avenue... 

For information, call the precinct’s 

Community Affairs Office at-718-257- 

6205. 

Medicare enrollment 

deadline is Dec. 7 

The Medicare enrollment deadline is 

December seventh, which means that 

seniors sixty-five years and over, only 

have a few days left to make decisions 

in choosing or amending their 

Health-Insurance plans. 

Annual Kwanzaa 

celebration 

People of the Sun Middle Passage Collective 

is holding its annual Kwanzaa 

Celebration and Feed the Need observance 

on Saturday, December 17th at 

the Gymnasium of the Medgar Evers 

College from 6.00 to 10.00 p.m. 

For information, contact Tony Akeem 

at 718-659-4999 

Turks and Caicos general 

elections 

The Turks and Caicos islands are 

holding General Elections on Monday, 

December fifth, 2016. 

Limiting Barbados 

sugar export 

Barbados’ Finance Minister-- Chris 

Sinkler has revealed that the island is 

going to produce limited quantities of 

sugar to meet its domestic consumption, 

and limited exporting. 

HIV 


ing to engage men. We know that 

cultural norms about masculinity 

lead men to take more risks relating 

to everything from sex to speed to 

alcohol. They also make men reluctant 

to seek medical care. Women 

use more healthcare services during 

their reproductive years when the 

HIV risk is highest. Unfortunately 

too many men stay away from health 

services during this important period. 

And so we need more men talking 

to men about their health. Caribbean 

men need to know that getting an 

HIV test is one way in which they 

can man up, taking responsibility 

for themselves, their sexual partners 

and their families. Starting and 

staying on HIV treatment isn’t a sign 

of weakness. If you are living with 

HIV knowing your status early and 

starting treatment will make you 

stronger, healthier and better able to 

live a productive life. 

Prince Harry is an excellent advocate 

but we need influential Caribbean 

men onboard—Prime Ministers, 

business leaders, soca and chutney 

singers, dancehall and reggae artists, 

sports stars. We need a groundswell 

to show boys and men that there’s 

nothing unmanly about health. 

OUTBREAK 


and environmental teams have been 

dispatched and are working to prevent 

the spread of the virus and treat 

all infected children. 

Pharmaceuticals to treat the virus 

have also been sent to the region 

along with the varicella vaccine. 

Dr. Oneka Scott who is the focal 

point for Adolescent Health at the 

Ministry of Public Health said that 

the varicella vaccine is a preventative 

one that targets vulnerable groups. 

The varicella virus commonly 

known as chicken pox is air borne 

and can be spread by droplets of saliva 

from coughing, sneezing, talking 

or even breathing along with sharing 

utensils. The virus has an incubation 

period of 10-21 days and symptoms 

include headaches, fever (mild to 

moderate), and appearance of rash 

on the abdomen that spreads to other 

parts of the body.

NEWS 

23 

Students from Dominica 

and Grenada make history 

Students from Dominica and Grenada, the 

first to receive regional top education awards 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Two 

students, one from Dominica and one 

from Grenada, have created history by 

becoming the first students to be awarded 

regional top awards for the Caribbean 

Certificate of Secondary Level Competence 

(CCSLC). 

The first recipients, Jason Philip of Presentation 

Brothers College, Grenada, and 

Keiana Brown of Northeast Comprehensive 

School, Dominica, will receive their 

awards at the opening of council and 

regional top awards ceremony slated for 

Thursday 1 December in Barbados. 

Both students achieved five subjects 

including Mastery in CCSLC English and 

Mathematics. Keiana achieved Master in 

CCSLC English and Mathematics and 

Grade I in CSEC Food and Nutrition, 

Technical Drawing and Electronic Document 

Preparation and Management. 

Jason achieved Master in CCSLC English 

and Mathematics and Grade I in Information 

Technology, Physical Education 

and Sport and Electronic and Electrical 

Technology. 

Ardenne Tops CAPE 

For the first time in the ten-year history 

of regional awards for the Caribbean 

Advanced Proficiency Examination 

(CAPE), the sister of a former awardee is 

the winner of the Dennis Irvine Award, 

the symbol of academic excellence at the 

CAPE level. 

Varna Thomas 

of Ardenne 

High School in 

Jamaica is the 

winner of this 

year’s Dennis Irvine 

Award. Varna 

is the sister of 

2013 winner Dea 

Thomas also of 

Ardenne High 

School. Varna 

Varna Thomas 

CAPE Top Awardee 

achieved Grade I in 12 CAPE Units: Applied 

Mathematics Units 1 and 2, Biology 

Units 1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry 

Units 1 and 2, Communications 

Studies, Physics Unit 1 and 2, and Pure 

Mathematics Units 1 and 2. 

Larissa Wiltshire of Queen’s College, 

Guyana wins the award for the Outstanding 

Candidate in Natural Sciences with 

Grade I in 12 Units. They are Applied 

Mathematics Units 1 and 2, Biology Units 

1 and 2, Caribbean Studies, Communications 

Studies, Chemistry Units 1 and 2, 

and Environmental Science Units 1 and 2. 

Trinidad and Tobago Students 

Dominate Awards 

The other awards were taken by students 

from Trinidad and Tobago. Joshua 


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the regular estimates of appropriations of 

the House of Assembly,” Sinckler said. 

“Once that information is in, I give 

the House and the public the assurance 

that we will bring it to parliament, have it 

properly booked in the system so that the 

public records will reflect that it was laid.” 

Meantime, opposition Member of Parliament 

Ronald Toppin accused the government 

of pumping money, which could 

have been used for roads or other critical 

issues here, into LIAT. 

Toppin said LIAT has been subsidized 

for more than 40 years and it’s time for 

some serious decisions as Barbados needs 

to get some returns for its investment. 

“LIAT still cannot stand on its own two 

feet. Oil prices, Mr. Chairman, have gone 

down and at the same time, despite that, 

lower oil prices which would lower anyone’s 

operating costs, LIAT still cannot 

stand on its own two feet. This is unsustainable,” 

Toppin said. 

“LIAT has Sir, in my view, grossly under-performed 

as a regional carrier. The 

reality now is that the burden of the operation 

and the inefficiencies of LIAT have 

now fallen disproportionately on the 

shoulders of few governments including 

and perhaps especially Barbados and the 

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AWARDS 


Ramkissoon of Hill View College ensures 

the Award for Most Outstanding 

Performance in Mathematics stays at Hill 

View for a second consecutive year. He 

achieved the award with Grade I in ten 

Units: Applied Mathematics Units 1 and 

2, Caribbean Studies, Communications 

Studies, Chemistry Units 1 and 2, Physics 

Units 1 and 2, and Pure Mathematics 

Units 1 and 2. 

Raquel Leblanc of St Joseph’s Convent 

(Port of Spain) receives the award for 

Most Outstanding Candidate in Business 

Studies with Grade I in ten Units: 

Accounting Units 1 and 2, Caribbean 

Studies, Communications Studies, Economics 

Units 1 and 2, Literatures in English 

Units 1 and 2, and Management of 

Business Units 1 and 2. 

Two students from Naprima Girls’ 

High School are among the awardees. 

They are Saajida Baksh who wins the Humanities 

Award, which is sponsored by 

Hodder Education; and Ilisha Manerikar 

who takes the Language Studies award, 

both with eight Units at Grade I. Saajida 

achieved Grade I in Caribbean Studies, 

Communication Studies, History Units 

1 and 2, Literatures in English Units 1 

and 2, Sociology Unit 1 and Grade II in 

Sociology Unit 2. Ilisha achieved Grade 

I in Caribbean Studies, Communication 

Studies, French Units 1 and 2, Literatures 

in English Units 1 and 2, and Spanish 

Units 1 and 2. 

Shabanah Mohammed of ASJA Girls, 

(San Fernando) is the winner of the Environmental 

Science award with Grade I 

in eight Units. Shabanah achieved Grade 

I in Biology Units 1 and 2, Caribbean 

Studies, Communication Studies, Environmental 

Science Units 1 and 2, and 

Geography Units 1 and 2. 

For producing the Most Outstanding 

Candidate Overall in 2016, Ardenne 

High School, Jamaica, receives the award 

for the CAPE School of the Year, the second 

time in four years. 

QC Tops CSEC; 

Jamaica Dominates 

Students from schools in Jamaica 

dominate the 2016 Caribbean Secondary 

Education Certificate (CSEC) Regional 

Top Awards list; however, a student from 

Queen’s College in Guyana is this year’s 

Most Outstanding Candidate Overall. 

Kayshav Tewari of Queens’ College 

achieved Grade I in 16 subjects to win 

the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall 

award. He also wins the award for 

the Most Outstanding Candidate in the 

Sciences. He achieved Grade I in: Additional 

Mathematics, Agricultural Science, 

Biology, Chemistry, Caribbean 

History, Economics, English A, English 

B, Electronic Document Preparation and 

Management, Geography, Human and 

Social Biology, Information Technology, 

Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physics, 

Principles of Accounts, Principles 

of Business, Religious Education, Social 

Studies and Spanish. 

Three students from Jamaica are in 

winners' row 

this year, the 

most for any 

one country at 

CSEC. Sahara 

Pinnock of Holy 

Childhood High 

School cops the 

Business Studies 

Award with 

Grade I in ten 

Kayshav Tewari – 

subjects. She 

CSEC Top Awardee 

achieved Grade 

I in Caribbean 

History, Economics, English A, Information 

Technology, Mathematics, Office 

Administration, Principles of Accounts, 

Principles of Business, Social Studies and 

Spanish. 

Danielle Williams of Campion College 

gets the award for the Best Short Story. 

The story is based on the stimulus: “He 

looked nervously around him and decided 

that the time was right. It was now or 

never.” 

The other Jamaican awardee is Jevauny 

Simpson of St Georges College for Most 

Outstanding Performer in 2-Dimensional 

Art in the Visual Arts examination. 

“This is an excellent example of drawing 

in which the candidate demonstrates 

mastery of technical skills, superior understanding 

of the medium and design 

principles to create a composition that 

is creative, innotive and aesthetically appealing,” 

the Chief Examiner stated. 

Sydni Walker of St Joseph’s Convent, 

Grenada gets the award for Most 

Outstanding Performer in Humanities. 

Sydni achieved Grade I in ten subjects 

and Grade II in one subject: Biology, 

Caribbean History, English A, English 

B, Geography, Information Technology, 

Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies and 

Spanish, and Grade II in Physics. 

Glevaughn Smith of Edward P Yorke 

High School in Belize is the winner of 

the Technical/Vocational Award with 16 

subjects, 14 Grade Is and two Grade IIs. 

He achieved Grade I in Building Technology 

(woods), Chemistry, English A, 

English B, Food and Nutrition, Electronic 

Document Preparation and Management, 

Geography, Huma and Social Biology, 

Information Technology, Integrated 

Science, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering 

Technology, Physics, Technical 

Drawing, Physical Education and Sport, 

and Grade II in Office Administration, 

and Spanish. 

Moesha Tyson has ensured that Bishop 

Anstey High School of Trinidad and Tobago 

has a hat-trick of wins in the 3-Dimensional 

Art Award. Moesha’s piece is 

taken from the Sculpture and Ceramics 

Option and is entitled “Old Boot.” 

Commenting on the selection of Moesha’s 

work, the Chief Examiner noted, 

“The product exhibits great technical 

skill, sensitivity to the medium and mastery 

of the construction technique. In 

that the candidate demonstrates excellent 

understanding of the medium, and 

has used the clay to convincingly communicate 

motion, gravity, weight, texture, 

emotion and atmosphere.” 

25 


DROUGHT 


take five or six days. 

If the test run is successful, the company 

will order bigger bags, costing more 

than $500,000 each and capable of holding 

16 times more water. The bags, which 

can be tethered together and pulled behind 

a boat, float near the ocean’s surface 

due to the difference in density between 

fresh and salt water. 

Towing Icebergs 

“Drought is hitting these countries 

more and more. In Barbados, some people 

only have water for a few hours a day,” 

said John Goedschalk, executive director 

of environmental group Conservation 

International’s Suriname office. “Is this 

the solution? I think we’d be a fool not to 

at least try it.” 

Still, moving fresh water around the 

globe to dry regions has been proposed 

before, including plans to tow icebergs 

from the arctic to Africa, but mostly 

without success. Even versions of the 

bags Amazone is using date back decades, 

with failed proposals to use them 

to deliver water to southern California, 

Israel and the Gaza Strip, and Northern 

Cyprus. 

Part of the difficulty is the question 

of control of water rights, said David 

Zetland, a professor at Leiden University 

College in the Netherlands who wrote 

“Living with Water Scarcity.” 

“The problem with water is that it’s not 

managed through market mechanisms,” 

Zetland said. “It’s managed through the 

political process. Water is subject to uncertainty 

because some politician can 

come along and say ’I’m just not going to 

do it this way.”’ 

Suriname’s Abundance 

Piek and private investors have spent 

around $2 million developing Amazone 

and plan to raise as much as $60 million 

next year when it wants to start making 

regular deliveries. 

Although he declined to provide pricing 

and costs, Piek said it is cheaper than 

the desalination and water treatments 

plants governments in the Caribbean are 

considering building. 

The Suriname government, which is 

trying to diversify a $4.9 billion economy 

that is forecast to contract this year, 

according to the International Monetary 

Fund, would make royalties off the water 

sales. Calls to President Desi Bouterse’s 

office were not returned. 

“We have a nearly unlimited source of 

fresh water in Suriname and at the same 

time the world’s population is growing 

and more people will be in need of fresh 

water,” Piek said. “And here, the water is 

just flowing into the sea.”

26 


SPORTS 


judging from the location of a speed 

bump to where her vehicle came to a full 

stop, the road showed no skid marks. 

Therefore the speed at which the victim 

would have hit her brakes and came to 

a full stop did not allow for any momentum 

to build up. Therefore, she would 

have been going at 10km/hr (6 mph) or 

less. 

He said this was such a well planned 

hit that they may have followed her several 

times beforehand to learn her likely 

momentum, routine and speed habits. 

He said the perpetrators would have 

timed exactly as she crossed the hump, 

slowing her vehicle down, stopping in 

front of her that she couldn’t run over the 

wagon with any force. 

The fact that the blocking vehicle may 

have been in the parking lot at the casino 

did not make the victim suspicious when 

the vehicle stopped in front of her, and 

perhaps the perpetrators may have been 

regular visitors at the casino and Seetahal 

was familiar with them and their vehicle. 

He also said the fact that her vehicle 

did not show any signs of damage to the 

front indicated that there was no collision. 

The reaction time of the shooters 

would have been 1.5-2.5 seconds from 

the moment the door of the panel van 

opened to the moment the fatal shot was 

fired. It was exact precision. He said that 

requires a lot of skill and military training. 

The victim had no time to react. He 

said the kind of training that was applied 

in the way the operation was carried out 

is consistent with a SWAT team and Special 

Forces. 

Many theories about Seetahal's assassination 

being linked to the police service 

and the elite in the country included 

all or some of the following potential 

components: 

1. Drug traffickers in South America. 

Transnational drug gangs figured out 

that Trinidad was an easy way to ship 

bulk cocaine from Venezuela and Colombia, 

break the cocaine into parcels at 

safe houses on smaller islands in Trinidad 

and other points, reseal, package 

and send them to the United States and 

Europe. 

2. Government officials aligned to 

more than one political party tied to human 

trafficking and the illegal drug trade 

with counterparts outside of Trinidad. 

Seetahal was investigating this. 

3. In December 2013, agents from US 

Customs and Border Protection were 

conducting routine X-rays of containers 

coming into the port at Norfolk, Virginia, 

when they detected suspicious patterns 

emanating from a 20-foot shipping container 

full of cans of orange juice. Investigators 

opened the cans individually and 

found a strange mix of orange juice and 

white powder pressed into cylindrical 

molds. Homeland Security officials said, 

“This was a very unique concealment 

effort.” When the cocaine was weighed 

and valued, it weighed 732 pounds and 

carried a street value of US$100 million. 

Local government financiers with ethnic 

backgrounds from the Middle East 

were said to be behind this shipment. 

Officials at the US DEA confirmed that 

the juice brand in question had an unblemished 

proven track record around 

the world for over 30 years. They were a 

natural, innocent target. Seetahal was in 

partnership with the US DEA investigating 

this matter. 

4. A Mexican drug cartel with local 

links. Seetahal was investigating this. 

5. One of the most talked about issues 

in the country. A May 2, 2014, Trinidad 

Express newspaper column was written 

by Seetahal, calling for an investigation 

into letters sent to the then prime minister 

Kamla Persad Bissesser by the then 

solicitor general Elanor Donaldson-Honeywell, 

headed “Report proposing the 

need for an investigation into litigation 

against the state arising from incidents in 

the Prison Service". 

The solicitor general highlighted the need 

for an investigation into circumstances that 

may “amount to breaches of professional 

ethics by attorneys involved that may have 

the effect of perverting the course of justice 

in litigation against the state". 

Institutions the solicitor general said 

should be investigated were: (1) The Police 

service; (2) Inspector of Prisons; (3) 

The Law Association. 

Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, 

the subject of a scandal he was 

involved in called "The Prison Litigation 

Scandal", said he was being wrongfully 

accused of plotting Seetahal’s assassination. 

Seetahal and her sister Susan Francois, 

director of the finance ministry’s 

Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), were 

investigating this case. One day after the 

column was printed Seetahal was shot 

dead. 

6. The murder-kidnapping of a Chaguanas 

business woman Vindra Niapaul 

Coolman. Seetahal was working on this 

case. 

7. And finally, a Muslim group working 

under the Lifesport program, called 

Jamaat al Muslimeem, a group that was 

said to have received large sums of cash 

to assassinate Seetahal. A Muslim Lifesport 

coordinator Rajee Ali is now behind 

bars accused of her murder. Investigators 

said they found sufficient evidence connecting 

him to Seetahal’s murder. Thirteen 

men from Jamaat al Muslimeem 

were arrested on suspicion of carrying 

out that assassination, causing many to 

ask why 13 men were accused of a murder 

that took one or two shooters using 

one or two guns to kill one person. 

In a Trinidad Guardian newspaper 

article dated May 25, 2003, Seetahal accused 

the Jamaat al Muslimeen for being 

responsible for most of the crime in 

Trinidad and Tobago. Reading the headlines 

from a local newspaper in a Senate 

debate that day she recited, "Jamaat in 

heroin trade; Jamaat in smuggling heroin 

in Trinidad and Tobago; ATF trained; 

Traced guns for Trinidad and Tobago 

government; Jamaat in gun trafficking 

and Jamaat with terrorist cell in the US." 

In a televised broadcast following Seetahal's 

murder, Persad Bissessar and then 

minister of national security Gary Griffith 

addressed the nation, describing the 

assassination as a well orchestrated mafia 

style killing. 

Persad Bissessar stated: "As prime 

minister, I am resolutely committed to 

meeting the viciousness which Dana Seetahal’s 

brilliant life was cut down on the 

terms she would have wanted and fought 

so courageously and fearlessly every 

day. Dana Seetahal would have fought 

with her last breath to ensure justice was 

served. By our response let us preserve 

that legacy. Mere expressions and sympathy 

and regrets are not enough. It is 

with profound sadness and shock that 

I learned of the tragic death of a dear 

friend and colleague. It is a reprehensible 

act which has robbed us all of one of our 

nation’s best and brightest daughters." 

However, key evidence has already 

gone. Officials cleaned the blood stained 

SUV, repaired the bullet holes and put 

the vehicle up for sale at public auction, 

widely reported as “Dana’s Death Car For 

Sale”, on January 30, 2016. 

Some asked, “If UNC officials alone 

had everything to do with Dana’s killing 

as the local media painted, why did the 

PNM government conceal and sell the 

evidence and not hold the evidence in 

a forensics lab after gaining supremacy 

in the 2015 general elections and by not 

fighting to bring the masterminds and hit 

men to justice?” 

Meanwhile, a Special Branch officer, 

who was one of the police investigators 

into Seetahal's murder stated that the police 

have done all they could have done. 

Now everything and all the evidence is in 

the hands of the present attorney general 

Faris al Rawi and it's up to him now to do 

something. 

"What we have seen thus far is nothing 

is being done by him to address this matter," 

the officer stated. 

Many are now asking if Seetahal’s murder 

will ever be solved to public satisfaction. 

Or is it that her murder was planned 

by persons she was investigating on both 

sides of the political fence? 

In reality, the truth of what actually 

happened may be lost forever by the inaction 

and silence of officials from both 

sides of the political divide. 

Her flesh may be gone but Seetahal’s 

spirit and legacy will undeniably live on 

and on in every individual heart and 

mind who knew of her and the contribution 

she made to society. Dana Seetahal 

will always be one of the most respected 

senior counsel the nation of Trinidad and 

Tobago has ever produced. 

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