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Sayed-Khaiyum’s Conflict Of Interest Puts Fiji In Election Turmoil

FIJIAN Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has refused to stand aside as Elections Minister despite coming under fire for retaining the portfolio while also becoming general secretary of the Fiji First party.

Fiji First is led by the leader of the 2006 coup, Frank Bainima rama, who will seek to remain in power at the September 17 election.Fijian Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said: “The entire electoral process is tainted should Sayed-Khaiyum retain his ministerial position to oversight the election.”Former civilian prime minister Laisenia Qarase also called on Mr Sayed-Khaiyum to resign one of the posts because “there is a serious conflict of interests”.National Federation Party general secretary Kamal Iyer said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had “compromised his position as Elections Minister” when he accepted the post with the military government’s party.

He said the election would “lose all semblance of being free, fair and credible” if Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also the Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment, Tourism and Communications, insists on holding both positions.Mr Sayed-Khaiyum responded that in the past prime ministers, including Mr Qarase, had taken responsibility for elections as well as retaining party responsibilities.But Mr Qarase said that Fiji had never previously appointed a minister specifically responsible for elections. And Mr Iyer said leaders including Mr Qarase who formerly took responsibility for elections did not oversee them by enforcing decrees that they had

t h e m s e l v e s d r a f t e d without public debate.T h e cons t i tu t ion under which the September election is being held, and the electoral rules, have been written and imposed t h r o u g h d e c r e e s

handed down by the government in which Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is the second most powerful figure after Mr Bainimarama.Meanwhile, Fiji First lost vice-president Bijai Prasad only days after the party

formally applied for registration when he resigned after failing to disclose a criminal record.This emerged after Mr Chaudhry exposed Mr Prasad, a former senior official of the Fiji Labour Party.

Fijian Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

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Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com 3Fiji News

Tourism Fiji CEO Quits

Tourism Fiji is on the hunt for a new chief executive following Rick Hamilton’s decision to take up a position with a competing tourism body.The board of directors confirmed it has “immediately removed” Hamilton from the top role, with the search for a replacement now underway.Fijian Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum applauded Hamilton’s efforts in implementing an “important phase” in Tourism Fiji’s restructure since taking on the role in January 2013.

"The board also acknowledges the role Rick played in establishing the team that coordinated the successful inaugural Fijian Tourism Expo last week, and that the organisation is now placed to fit a leader with a skill set necessary for the evolution of Tourism Fiji and its strategic plan," he said.Hamilton’s decision is said to be because the relocation of his family to Fiji had not proved possible, and he no longer wanted to be separated from them and was instead taking up in a position in the same location.

Rick Hamilton

Alternative Plan For FishingFIJI Fish has no intention of abandoning the fishing industry in Fiji — only the tuna industry, says Fiji Fish Marketing Group managing director Grahame Southwick.However, he assured they had alternative plans in place and a commitment to their workers."This will indeed call upon all of our experience, capital and skills as we leave the Fiji tuna industry to burn and sink. We have no intention of going down with this ship," he said."We have a commitment to our captains, engineers and fishermen of 25 years, and we will all sink or swim together, but it will not be in the tuna industry. The domestic tuna industry as we knew is finished.""We are working with the Fisheries Ministry and the PM's Office to try and save the industry with our "Plan B'.""The PM himself has been very supportive of our new direction and has agreed this new direction will not be open for foreign involvement in any way, but protected for 100 per cent Fiji vessels."He said legislation had already been drafted in this direction and they were encouraged as a result to throw

everything they had at the endeavour.Fiji, at its peak, employed 70 tuna vessels with approximately 15 men per vessel or more than 1000 men.Based on that, Mr Southwick said, the collapse of the domestic tuna industry was projected to lose about 8000 jobs."In addition, numerous international markets, millions in foreign exchange, 30 years of fishing and technical skills and any sort of bargaining position at tuna meetings have all been lost and nobody has really blinked."Fiji Fish was the pioneer tuna company. It has a 40-year history of developing and growing fisheries, which included the fresh tuna fishery and the deep water snapper fishery among others."We have studied well the causes of this decline in the tuna fishery and determined that there is nothing that can be done to ensure the short or medium-term survival of the domestic tuna fishery short of massive direct subsidies."Given that the primary cause — gross overfishing by Asian and state-subsidized vessels — grows worse with each passing day," Mr Southwick said.

Fijifirst Man, Bijai Prasad, Quits Over Criminal Record

Proposed FijiFirst party vice president Bijai Prasad has resigned after it was revealed he had a criminal record.Prasad announced he was resigning during a press conference in Nadi, but said he will continue to support the proposed FijiFirst party.Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry had revealed earlier this week that Prasad was convicted and jailed for larceny and conversion as an Air Terminal Services employee in 1982.The revelation and Prasad's stepping down is the first major political blow for the proposed FijiFirst party and its leader and current Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who is campaigning for the September general election, on a giving Fiji a clean untainted government.Chaudhry had said Prasad is the last person to be questioning the integrity of others, after Prasad had questioned the FLP's record and told the media they had no chance of winning the election.“I am the least bit bothered by Bijai Prasad’s comments. But he should be the last person to question the integrity of others. On money matters he should look at his own record - Bijai Prasad

was convicted and jailed for larceny and conversion as an employee of ATS,” he said.Prasad said the party was not aware of his record when they submitted their application to the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem when registering."We spoke about my record afterwards and we thought that it was in the best interest of the party that I step down," he said."I will continue to offer my support, but not in an official capacity. I had to step down to ensure the proposed party's record is clean."Chaudhry had also said Prasad was also not telling the truth about why he quit the FLP.Chaudhry, who was Finance Minister at the time Prasad left, said Prasad was in a huff over disagreements about his (Chaudhry) not giving certain approvals on some land deals in Nadi.He said Prasad was then suspended from the FLP in 2008 for making derogatory remarks against the party leadership at an FLP branch meeting in Nadi.Chaudhry said Prasad never raised any issues on money raised overseas with him.

Sayed-Khaiyum Firm On StanceAttorney General and Minister for Elections Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stands by his earlier comments and describes those who have called for his resignation as attention seekers.He maintains there are no differences in his responsibilities as was given to Laisenia Qarase for the 2001 and 2006 elections as well as Sitiveni Rabuka in the 1996 elections while they held the prime minister’s portfolio while they held leadership roles in their respective political parties then.Qarase and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry had reacted strongly to the appointment of Sayed-Khaiyum as secretary of the proposed FijiFirst party, calling on him to step down as Minister for Elections citing conflict of interest.“It’s the same thing,” Sayed-Khaiyum.“Ministerial assignments, elections office, electoral commissioners were given to Laisenia Qarase, the same

thing has been given to me. Just because we highlighted the minister responsible for elections, does not in any way change the fact that he was responsible for elections.“It is in the same way if any government wants to highlight a particular aspect of the position.“Like I said most comments made by these people is not worth responding. I think they are just trying to get attention. The law is quite clear.”When asked about his degree of involvement in the electoral process, he maintains the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office including the Supervisor of Elections are independent.“The law is quite clear. The Electoral Commission is independent, the Supervisor of Elections and is independent. It’s in the Electoral Decree. It is very clear. It is very simple.”

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TI mesTHE FIJI

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I Wanted Them Dead: Viseisei Murderer Priya Darshani Jailed Viseisei double murderer Priya Darshani was in a de-factor relationship with the woman she killed, and intended to kill Taufa Patolo and her children when she went to their house on the morning of the attack on December 18, 2013, court papers show.Darshani who was handed a life sentence by a high court in Lautoka, had admitted to the police when she was arrested "that the reason she went to Viseisei was to go and kill Taufa and the family and she did not like them."Her murder weapon was a crow bar which was lying outside the deceased's house.Court papers show at around 10am, Darshani turned up at the house in Viseisei where the deceased and her children lived.At the time Darshani and Mokai Patolo, the husband of the deceased, were in a defacto relationship and were living in a separate house in Lawaki in Lautoka.An argument developed between the two women when the deceased enquired why Darshani had come to their house."From the argument, Darshani picked up a crow bar which was lying outside the house and struck Taufa Patolo (deceased) on her head," court papers say."Taufa was holding her seven-month-

old baby, Sarah, at the time when she was struck and they both fell to the floor."While Taufa was lying on the floor, Darshani hit her several times and thereafter struck the seven-month baby on her head."Dashani then went after Taufa's three children who were also in the house and struck them with the crow bar which led to serious injuries."Taufa and the baby died instantly while the three children lay in the house injured.Darshani was later seen by neighbours leaving the house carrying her son with the deceased's husband.The husband, Mokai, was called up by neighbours and took his children and dead wife to the Lautoka Hospital.Darshani was arrested on the same day.Post mortem examination into the deaths of Taufa and her daughter revealed death through excessive bleeding, caused by head injuries due to blunt force trauma.Medical reports done on the three children, Grace, Angeline and Anna also noted injuries including skull fracture and wounds on face due to a blunt object.One of the children, Grace was deeply traumatised by the events that she "doesn't talk much" as a result, the

medical report showed.Last month she pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.Sentencing her, Justice De Silva,

handed life imprisonment terms for each count, effective December 18, 2013. She is to serve a minimum term of 20 years before she will be considered for parole.


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US Chocolate Firms Look To Source Fijian Cocoa Beans

Pacific Islands Trade and Invest based in Sydney, Australia, recently hosted a number of representatives from two boutique US-based chocolate companies interested in buying Fijian grown cocoa beans.Export Services manager for the Sydney-based company, Jeremy Grennell, said these representatives were also looking to work with the local farmers to improve the quality of cocoa beans.“The visitors were interested in sourcing premium grade cacao and are prepared to work with growers to help them increase the quality of their beans so they could realize a higher price,” he said.“Any small batch chocolate bars that do end up being made from Fijian cacao will be identified as such with Fiji branded as the origin of the cacao.Fijian tasteThe representatives met with a range of different Fijian companies including the award winning exporter, Adi

Chocolate.With Adi Chocolate, both parties had the opportunity to taste each other’s chocolate, compare packaging and discuss the challenges of making craft chocolate.Tomo Zukoshi, from Adi Chocolate was very impressed with their packaging while the US visitors loved the chocolate flavours that Mr Zukoshi could bring out in his Fijian made chocolate.Meridian Cacao founder, Gino Dalla Gasperina, said while the industry in Fiji is in rather an infant state, it represents a perfect time to build the infrastructure to promote Fijian cocoa as a premium origin.“This is with an aim to receive premium prices for a large percentage of total cocoa production,” he said.Fiji first came on the radar when Greg D’alesandre, owner of San Francisco based Dandelion Chocolate purchased a bar of Adi Chocolate when on a stopover at Nadi airport.

Health Ministry Takes In 46 Nurses

THE Health Ministry has this year absorbed 46 nurses who graduated from the Labasa Sangam College of Nursing into the civil service.Nursing director Silina Waqa-Ledua said the nurses graduated from the college in December last year."We have a memorandum of agreement that covers the role of the ministry and the college as one of the nursing providers," she said."The college along with the Fiji National University provides us with human resources and this is the relationship we have established for about a decade now."Commenting on the two nursing institutions,Mrs Waqa-Ledua said the curriculum

offered in both colleges were basically the same."What's delivered here at the Labasa Sangam College of Nursing is also delivered to a reasonably manageable cohort of nursing students in Tamavua," she said."There is not much of a difference in the two institutions."There is only one nursing council that oversees both the curriculums in the colleges and we anticipate that what is produced here is also produced in Tamavua."National TISI Fiji president Sadasivan Naicker said they had developed a good relationship with the ministry in terms of employing their graduates.

Man Paralysed After Vehicle FallA 25-year-old Labasa man has been left paralysed after he fell from a moving vehicle, the driver of which is still to be located by authorities.Police spokesperson Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the victim was getting off the vehicle at Vuniqari in Tabia when the driver suddenly drove off,

causing the victim to fall. He sustained spinal injuries as a result.The victim was on his way to Labasa from Nabouwalu.“The victim is currently admitted at the men’s surgical ward and the driver is yet to be located,” Sokomuri said.

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Rotuman Fruit BanPM warns people not to smuggle in fruits from Rotuma

The Prime Minister, Rear Admiral (Retired) Voreqe Bainimarama, warned civil servants not to smuggle fruits from Rotuma.He made the warning during his briefing with the civil servants at Ahau pavilion.A biosecurity officer on the island told the PM that the people of Rotuma had never breached the regulation in regard to the illegal transfer of fruits from Rotuma.Under the regulation, the Biosecurity officer said all fruits in Rotuma were to remain on the island.The officer said the people of Rotuma respect this regulation but only civil servants were always breaching the regulation.According to Biosecurity of Fiji website, fruit flies are a major concern because they cause damage to fruits and vegetables, hindering production and decreasing exports.He said they were prohibiting the export of fruits to Fiji because of the fruit disease spread by the fruit flies.The Prime Minister had given his

directive to Biosecurity officers on Rotuma Island to check every bag before loading.To the civil servants going back to Fiji, the Prime Minister said – “Do not take any fruits with you.”The fruit flies, according to the Biosecurity officer, is a fruit disease only found in Rotuma.He said the disease was dangerous if transferred to Fiji. The Prime Minister said he did not want to hear or see that fruit disease had found its way into mainland Fiji.“It’s a dangerous disease and we must join forces in keeping it out from Fiji,” he said.All fruits are not allowed into Fiji except for the coconuts. Fruits are not allowed to be exported to Tuvalu as well.Meanwhile, Rotuma farmers are ready to trade with Fiji as the Tuvalu marked is not reliable.The PM has urged Rotumans to free up more land for agriculture as they needed increased production and higher yields.

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NFP To File Case In Court To Push For Changes To Ballot Paper

With just four months to go for the general elections, the National Federation Party said it will file a case in court in the next few weeks to push for changes to the ballot paper. Although the government has confirmed that the ballot paper design will not be amended, NFP General Secretary, Kamal Iyer said the party believes that the change is necessary. Attorney General and Minister for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said this is one of the most uncomplicated ballot papers Fiji will ever use. Sayed-Khaiyum said the four political parties who want the candidates’

names, photos and party symbols on the ballot paper, are just creating a circus and not focusing on issues. Sayed-Khaiyum said the Open List System will ensure that people know who they want to vote for. Under the new voting system, the current ballot paper will only have a list of candidate numbers. There will be no party symbols or candidate's names on the current ballot paper. This system also has only one constituency and that is Fiji. People can vote for any person who is an official candidate.

As already highlighted, it is not race based and does not restrict people from voting only for candidates in certain areas. The candidate names and numbers will be drawn by the Elections Office by August 25th . Under the Electoral Decree, it is said that the numbering must start from 135. The candidate's names, their photos and numbers will be displayed at all polling stations when people go to cast their votes. It has been confirmed in the Electoral Decree that people can either tick, cross or circle only one candidate's number on the current ballot paper.

Day That Changed FijiMay 14 is a very important day as far as Fiji's history is concerned — it is the day the first group of indentured labourers set foot here after arriving from India on board the Leonidas in 1879.And it is also the day when the first coup was carried out in 1987, resulting in many people, especially Fijians of Indian descent, fleeing overseas.The arrival of the indentured labourers slowly moved the country's economy forward, as intended, but the military coup 108 years after their arrival set it backwards.In memory of those who arrived on board the Leonidas and afterwards, the Fiji Girmit Council has organised a function in Lautoka to celebrate Girmit Day.Council secretary Vishwa Nadan said May 14 was a very significant day for the council, for Fijians of Indian descent and the country as a whole."It's the day when our forefathers came to Fiji and Girmit Day is to recognize their sacrifice and contribution towards Fiji and its economy," he said."We will pay homage to our forefathers and revisit the difficulties they went through then, as there were no means for them to get justice unlike what it is now," he said.

Mr Nadan said items related to the indenture system were performed during the celebrations at Girmit Centre.He said the younger generation would be reminded of what their forefathers went through during the indenture system, which was commonly known as girmit."We also highlighted the progress made by the descendants of the indentured labourers who were brought to Fiji to toil the sugarcane fields."On the first coup on the same day in 1987, Mr Nadan said: "It's common knowledge that the consequences of

the first coup have not put the country back on par until today."The entire country suffered because of the coup and Fijians of Indian descent left the country in numbers. It was the deciding moment for many Fijians of Indian descent."The exodus of Fijians of Indian descent started after the events of the 1987 coup and it's still happening today."Mr Nadan, however, said the council would not want to dwell much on the political events of the past but instead focus on moving the country forward — politically and economically.

New Policer Commissioner Arrives Fiji's new police commissioner, Bernadus Groenewald has arrived into the country.He flew into the country with his wife, Louise.However, details on when he starts work is being handled by the Solicitor General Office.Attempts to get comments from the SG's office proved futile.Meanwhile, the Fiji Police Force has continued with their daily operation, awaiting the new commissioner to start work officially.Groenewald served in South Africa’s Defence and Security forces. He served

42 years in the South African Police Service and retired in 2010 at the rank of Major-General.He was also the commanding officer of the South African police academy.Groenewald replaces Brigadier General Iowane Naivalurua whose term expired in September last year.The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had earlier told the reporter that the new commissioner will also decide on ACP Ravi Narayan's new position. ACP Narayan took up the role in an acting basis following Naivalurua's departure.


New $2 Coins To Circulate From August

A new series of $2 coins will be circulated from August this year. Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Barry Whiteside said this follows members of the public raising concerns on them not being able to tell the difference between the $1 and $2 coins. He said after discussions with the Royal Canadian Mint on how to address the concerns, the new $2 coin will now be a little larger, heavier and also have a slightly different colour. He said the new $2 coin will be bronze plated compared to the previous brass plated ones. He said hopefully with these new changes there will no longer be any more confusion between the $1 and $2 coins. Whiteside said once the PM gives his approval they hope the new $2 coin will be in circulation around or shortly

after August. He said the cost of the new $2 coins will only be made public once they are in circulation. He added the old ones will be withdrawn and sent back to the Royal Canadian Mint.

Fiji Industries Undergoes Name Change

Fiji Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Fijian Holdings Limited Group, is being renamed to Pacific Cement Limited.This follows and approval from the board and in hopes to better reflect what the company’s main business which is cement production.Acting general manager, Sonni Dutt, said the company has been in existence for the past 60 years, however, a lot of people do not associate the company with cement manufacturing.“Fiji Industries has been there for so long – but if you ask the grassroots people what Fiji Industries does, they won’t know that we produce cement,” he said.“We had to decide this because our brand is called Pacific Cement. So the Pacific Cement – the name itself must reflect this.“Therefore we feel the new name will better reflect what we do.”Fiji Industries Limited already had

Pacific Cement brand on its cement bags.Expansion into PacificThe move also comes as the company plans expansion into the Pacific exports markets.Mr Dutt said: “We are now eyeing the Pacific market. We were the only cement factory in the Pacific and so we decided to go with that name.”The official launch date for the new name has not been yet confirmed however, the company is in a transition phase to the new name. It is rebranding and planning the launch in a big way.It is in the process of changing the names on the billboards etc.Mr Dutt confirmed there will be a major launch to mark the name change in Suva followed by another one in West and another one in the North.To make the announcement in the export market, this will be done through a magazine they are trying to get out called Pacific Link.

Bill Of RightsTHROUGH workshops conducted by members of the Citizens Constitutional Forum around the country, it was found that some people in remote areas were still unaware of what the 2013 Constitution contained.CCF communications officer Nazeem Kasim said a majority of the participants showed no knowledge of the 2013 Constitution and had not read or seen it and as a result, were not aware of the Bill of Rights."The lack of knowledge on the elections process and how voting will take place was also evident from the group discussions," he said.A workshop was held for the cane farming community of Soweri, in Golf Link Ba, where 35 participants attended."The community is still yet to be visited by voter educators and there is

an urgent need for voter education in this community as the elections are less than five months away. The Elections Office had kick started voter education on national television."However, most of these families do not have access to television. People also raised concerns on the ability of the physical challenged and older people who cannot remember the candidate's three digit numbers and grass roots people who cannot read and write to properly cast their votes due to the non-inclusion of party logos and candidate’s photos from the ballot papers."Participants feel from the time when the candidates list will be made public to the date of polling, the time will not be sufficient for them to study their party candidates and as a result will affect the ability to cast a valid vote."

Samabula Old People's Home To Get A Facelift

Residents of the Samabula Old People's Home will soon enjoy a refurbished facility in view of plans to give the aged-care facility a makeover.A total of 32 officers and inmates from the Suva and Nasinu Corrections Centre along with staff of RC Manubhai, who are also financing the makeover, began by cleaning up the facility's rooftops

and kitchen.The project which is estimated to cost between $16,000 and $18,000 is expected to be completed in three weeks' time.RC Manubhai's Community Development Chairman, Ashwin Prasad acknowledged the Fiji Corrections Services' support in the community work.

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Tourism Expo For Travel Agents

MORE than 100 New Zealand travel agents are expected to attend the first ever South Pacific Tourism Exchange travel agents expo at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand next month.In a statement, host South Pacific Tourism Organisation said it continued to receive overwhelming support from the New Zealand travel trade and called on travel agents that wished to attend to confirm their registration.SPTO CEO Ilisoni Vuidreketi said

this was an ideal way to further grow businesses out of New Zealand through those extended agent networks and was a highly cost-effective way to maximise seller presence and participation at the 2014 SPTE."The timing of the expo had also been carefully chosen to coincide with SPTE to maximise participation with the expo a free flowing mini trade event with no scheduling of appointments between the agents and the exhibitors."

Overseas EVR To Resume In NZ

Registration of Fijians living in New Zealand for the September 17 election resumes this week.This is expected to start in Whangarei this Saturday as part of a week-long exercise that concludes in Christchurch on May 24.This is the second round of registration drive to be held in New Zealand following on the first phase in October last year where 558 Fijians were registered.Voter registration had also been carried out in Australia in February this year where 664 Fijians were registered, bringing the total number of overseas Fijians registered so far to 1,222.Meanwhile, Fiji’s Supervisor of

Elections Mohammed Saneem has assured the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau that the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) is working around the clock to ensure the September 17 election runs smoothly.In a meeting at the FEO yesterday which was also attended by Defence Minister Joketani Cokanasiga and Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma, the SOE briefed the head of state on progress including that Fijians have to be registered by August 4 should they want to vote in the 2014 Elections.He also briefed the meet on the second phase of the voter registration drive overseas.

'Prices Up 60% Since Coup', NFP For 10% VAT

National Federation Party (NFP) leader Bimal Prasad says the party will reduce VAT to 10 per cent if they come into government because the "price of food items has increased by 60 per cent since the (2006) coup"."In early 2007 if your shopping bill for food was $100 per week, it is now $160 for the same amount of food items”, Prasad told a pocket meeting in Navua.He told 50 residents of Naitata settlement last Friday that the NFP intends to decrease tax to 10 per cent once in government.“We will also review duties on food items and other essential goods," Prasad said."The price of food items has increased by 60 per cent since the coup. In early 2007 if your shopping bill for food was $100 per week, it is now $160 for the same amount of food items”, he said.He describes as "warped logic" critics who claim that reducing VAT would

decrease government revenue by more than $200 million.Prasad said there are other ways of increasing government revenue, but not at the expense of the paying public who now have to pay more for goods and services.“We want to put back that $200 million in the hands of our poor and the ordinary citizens of our country through reduction in VAT. What is wrong with this?" Prasad said.“There are many other ways of recovering the revenue and these will be thoroughly outlined in our manifesto."At the meeting, 2014 election aspiring candidate, Bimal Prasad who contested the 2006 elections under the NFP banner also addressed the residents on his reasons for supporting the party.Meanwhile, the party is still working on finalizing other potential candidates as well as manifesto and is hopeful to have it ready next month.

Education StandardTHE standard of education in Fiji can be improved and political parties and independent candidates need to use the public platforms they have to promote better education for Fijians.This should include education which was seen to reflect gender equality.This was one of the concerns raised by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) this month, when asked about issues politicians needed to address while campaigning for the 2014 election."There is significant anecdotal evidence that the standards of education in Fiji have been declining," claimed FWCC executive director Shamima Ali."At the post-secondary level, there is an emphasis on academic education as opposed to technical/vocational training. Low salaries for teachers (which include a significant proportion of women) mean that the best graduates prefer to join the private sector."

Ms Ali said although education was now free, political parties and independent candidates should be aware that there were other things to consider in this regard."While the current government has recently made schooling free, other costs such as uniforms, shoes and stationery continue to be prohibitive for some parents in the lowest socioeconomic strata."Also, cultural and social biases still exist against girls being allowed to access higher education, or education in technical/vocational fields."Ms Ali suggested that parties and independent candidates could even consider providing scholarships or incentives to girls to increase skills training in technical areas."And also review school curricula to ensure that the curricula reflects gender equality."

New Port Surveillance CamerasSeven new closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were commissioned at the Queens Wharf in Lautoka.Besides enhancing security and adhering to international port compliance measures, these new cameras are also expected to improve the performance and efficiency of port officials.Commissioner Western, Commander Joeli Cawaki, said though these new cameras were an upgrade, there had been room for improvement as the cameras would allow port officials to view those in Suva and vice-versa.“This will also give an opportunity for people in the company to have mobile access to the surveillance system,” he said.“It is a requirement that we need to have and one we need to put in place so that we are on par with other countries.

“For Fiji to improve its trade, these are the type of equipment we will need to have in our ports.”The equipment was installed by Professional Electronics and replaces an old batch of CCTV equipment.Addressing officials from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority, the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Fiji Ports Terminal, Commander Cawaki said it was not a system to watch their backs but to see the right things were being done.“It is not to penalise how people conduct their work but is a tool to assist the management to improve on performance,” he said.“The ports in Lautoka and Suva, we have seen losing that efficiency for some time“That is why we have this expense that comes at the port so we can improve our efficiency.”


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FijiFirst.Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Retired) Voreqe Bainimarama says people must all work together to change a culture of malice and deceit.He said unfortunately many of the older politicians and political parties had practiced and continued to practice this culture.Speaking in Rotuma, he said: “If we are all to progress as a nation and as a country and improve the lives of people, no matter where they are in Fiji, we must embrace leaders who are sincere, truly care for everyone irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, socio-economic background or gender.“Leaders who have policies for development, modernization and improving the lives of all Fijians.”He was referring to a flyer that claimed he was earning $1.7 million in salary. He said political parties must not lie to win people’s favour in the coming general election.This was part of his address during the Rotuma Day celebrations at Ahau Government station ground.

“Recently one of the political parties was distributing a flyer that I was earning a salary of over $1 million dollars,” Mr Bainimarama said.He said they had done so without any fact, or proof or evidence.He said his real salary would be known after the registration of the proposed FijiFirst, when he would provide a declaration of his assets and liabilities to the Fijian Elections Office.The flyer claimed the PM was getting paid on all the 10 ministries under him.The political party flyer claimed he is getting:- $170,000 as Prime Minister- $105,000 as Commander Fiji Military- $140,000 as Minister for Finance- $150,000 as Minister for Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics- $140,000 as Minister for Sugar Industry and- $140,000 Minister for Taukei and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.Total – $1,326,000According to the flyer the Prime Minister gets paid $3,632.87 per day.

A Tribute To GirmitiyasTHE plight of indentured labourers who travelled from India will be remembered in a song composed by former Fiji resident Mohammed Shaan.Now residing in the US, Shaan composed a song which pays tribute to labourers who changed the course of the country's history.Mr Shaan said the Girmit song was aptly titled Unn Garibo'n Ki Sachi Kahaani Suno Jinko Girmit Mei'n Lakar Sataya Gaya."The song pays tribute to our brothers and sisters who came to work on the sugarcane plantations during the indenture system in Fiji," he said."It talks about the difficulties and hardships faced by these labourers

during that time and how they worked hard and contributed towards the betterment, development and a better life for Fiji and its people."He said remembering the plight of the Girmitiya was important for every Fijian of Indian descent in the country."Remembering that day on May 14, 1879, as the significant day the first ship Leonidas arrived in Fiji with 479 Indian labourers."A total of 82 other ships followed and transported over 60,000 Girmitiyas to Fiji. This ended on December 31st 1919."The song is part of his album Yaadein which consists of other compositions by the aspiring artist.

$90,000 Target In Rice SalesRewa Rice Limited expects to rake in about $90,000 in a month from the sale of rice to its consumers on Vanua Levu.Such earnings are expected to increase in the future now that the Dreketi mill is fully operational following vigorous maintenance work.Company chairman Raj Sharma said there was significant demand for rice in the North, particularly Labasa."Our local brown rice is very high in demand because its nutritious and good for health," Mr Sharma said."For Labasa Hospital, we supply about 100 kilograms of brown rice per month."We have just had a talk with one of the leading supermarkets here and they buy four tonnes per week from us.

"The actual sale that we expect right now is about 12 to 15 tonnes of rice per week."We are buying rice at $1.50 per kilogram and say if it's 15 tonnes, we are looking at raking in about $18,000 per week."This means that we are selling about 60 tonnes of rice in a month to our consumers on Vanua Levu only and not Viti Levu."Mr Sharma said if all went well, the mill would earn about $90,000 from the sale of rice on Vanua Levu in a month."The company is trying to supplement around five to 10 per cent of the local rice consumption in the next two to three years."

FLP Writes To The President About Sayed-Khaiyum

The Fiji Labour Party has now written to the President for Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to be removed from the position of Minister for Elections. FLP Leader and Secretary General Mahendra Chaudhry said since Sayed-Khaiyum is the General Secretary of the Proposed Fiji First, he should either resign or be removed from his ministerial position to ensure the September 17th General Elections is free, fair and credible. In a recent interview, Sayed-Khaiyum had told us that the political parties calling for his resignation are not taking a principled

position as they did not call for any resignations in the past when Ministers responsible for general elections were holding official party positions. According to the government gazettes, Sitiveni Rabuka was the Minister responsible for Elections in 1999 while Laisenia Qarase was the Minister responsible for Elections in 2001 and 2006. This is listed under their responsibilities in the gazettes. According to Sayed-Khaiyum there is no conflict of interest after he became the General Secretary of the proposed FijiFirst.

Metromix Concrete To Set Up A Crushing Plant

Metromix Concrete Fiji, a division of MY Group Limited will invest around half a million dollars in setting up a new rock crushing plant in Davuilevu Nausori.General Manager, Azad Ali said the plant is on its way from China and work has started at the new site.

Ali said they are opening a new site in Nausori as there is a huge demand for hard river gravel and rocks which will be crushed and given to road contractors.He said around 20 new jobs will also be created after the setting up of the crushing plant in Davuilevu.

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GPH Lights Up For Its First Wedding EventThe Grand Pacific Hotel lit up last Saturday night to welcome the first couple to wed after its refurbishment.While the hotel has not completed the project, the couple Adrianna Tiko and Bradley Hall, gave a thumbs up for an excellent service.Mrs Hall said: “It’s really nice the have gone out of their way, the management because of the constraints of time and everything else they have done a great job and it’s going to get better than this.”Mr Hall said the service was world class.Hotel general manager Eugen Diethelm said: “Having a wedding at this five star hotel is affordable and we do not have higher prices than any other hotel in the west.“The couple came to me about five to six months ago and asked if they could have their wedding here so we told them May 10 would be possible.“Now the very first wedding after 22 years is taking place where everything is fine and ready. It took us three days to prepare for it because the hotel is not open yet.“We will have the soft opening in June but we have not decided on the date for the grand opening as it will be discussed with the directors during our board meeting next month.”Mr Diethelm noted it would roughly

be around July but they have been receiving room bookings every day.He said: “I will ensure there are more weddings in the future as we will specialize in this area.For every wedding the couple will get one night free at the Queen Elizabeth suite plus one year gym and pool free membership.”The iconic hotel is being redeveloped and reopened in a joint venture between Papua New Guinea’s National Superannuation Fund, or NASFUND, and Fiji National Provident Fund Lamana Development of Papua New Guinea. NASFUND has a 50 per cent stake, and FNPF and Lamana 25 per cent each.Newly wedded coupleFormer Fiji Airways pilot Mrs Hall and her husband who is into business were

happy and privileged to wed at this world class hotel.Mr Hall said: “We are very pleased and happy about the way it worked out for the timing to have such a nice venue such as this famous hotel.”Mrs Hall said they had been preparing for the wedding since last year after the groom proposed in August.“We realized that the Grand Pacific was opening and we thought it would be a good opportunity to wed here.“This is a good opportunity to showcase what they can provide for future weddings and for what people can expect from the Grand Pacific it’s more

like a balance sort of partnership,” she said.The Vanuabalavu beauty was a first officer for the Fiji Airways Boeing 767 and 737. Recently she resigned to pursue other things.“I have been flying for the last 14 years, I left because I was experienced and I can always walk back into the job.“When the opportunity arises I will go back but at the time being I would like to pursue other dreams /interests,” she said.Mr Hall from California, loves Fiji.He shared that they have some good business plans Fiji.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com 11

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Trade Deficit Hits Record $3.16 Billion

Fiji's trade deficit grew again last year to a record $3.16 billion as the country's imports jumped and exports continued to decline.Imports stood at $5,206.2 million while exports were $2,044.9m, according to provisional stats released by Stats Fiji.Compared to 2012, imports increased by $1,173.2m while total exports decreased by $146.4m.Even accounting for the purchase of the Airbus aircraft for $1.09 billion by Fiji Airways, the 2013 trade deficit was still much higher than $1,842.7m a year earlier.The purchase of imported vehicles and aircraft went up by $936.4m (402 per cent) to $1,169.3m.Meanwhile, France and the US were Fiji's biggest source of imports largely due to the Airbus purchase.The import of machinery & mechanical and electrical appliances and parts made up Fiji's second highest import goods, increasing by 22.5 per cent. This was largely due to increased imports of telephone for cellular networks or other

networks. For the month of November, $58.3m was spent on this. This was an increase of $15.6m (36.4%) compared to the October purchase.There were also increased imports from China for fresh fish and from New Zealand, milk and cream.Fiji recorded less imports from Singapore and Australia due to decreased demand for diesel, wheat and meslin.Overall, Fiji recorded decrease in the imports of animal products (by 15.4 per cent) and wood, pulp, paper & paperboard (by 0.8 per cent).On exports, Fiji's trade with Australia decreased by $61.6m to $228.2m due to decreased exports of gold.Exports to UK decreased - down $110.4m (61.3 per cent) to $70m due to decreased exports of sugar.Fiji's biggest export was to the USA, up by $22m (12 per cent) to $205.1m due to increased exports of fresh fish. There was also increased export of flour to Vanuatu, up $5.5m to $33.9m.

Pair Jailed For $33K RobberyTwo men convicted of stealing various items worth about $33,000 from the British American Company in 2012 have been handed prison terms by the High Court in Lautoka.Laisenia Vuluma will spend about seven years behind bars while Jolame Vunituraga was sentenced to nine years four months in jail.The two were sentenced by Justice Sudharshana De Silva after admitting to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.The court heard that both Vuluma and Vunituraga were part of a gang that robbed the British American Company on March 12, 2012, in Lautoka.Among the items stolen by the pair were 10 cartons of assorted cigarettes valued at $29,9430.10, $2010.60

cash, $359.80 cash cheque, a $400 mobile phone — altogether valued at $32,713.50.They also robbed an employee of the company of cash and mobile phone worth $220.The two accused also stole a car from the company worth $89,000.Justice De Silva said Vuluma and Vunituraga along with a third man threatened and robbed the employees of the tobacco company while they were on a delivery run in Naikabula, Lautoka.He said the robbery was well planned and the stolen items were of high value.The high court judge ordered that Vuluma serve a non-parole period of six years while his co-accused spend eight years behind bars before being considered for parole.

President To Visit Fijian Troops Serving With UN Peacekeeping Missions

His Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, has left country to begin a series of visits to Fijian troops serving with United Nations peacekeeping missions overseas.In his role as Commander in Chief of Fiji’s Armed Forces, the President will be visiting troops serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights in Syria, those with the Multinational Force of Observers (MFO) in Sinai and another contingent with the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS).He is accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Joketani Cokanasiga, and the Commander of the RFMF, Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga, who is making his first visit to Fijian troops on overseas deployment since he assumed

the role of Commander.The visit - which is primarily designed to boost morale - will allow the President to be updated on the challenges facing our young men and women in these various war-torn areas. It will also provide the opportunity for him to brief them on developments taking place in Fiji, especially in relation to the September 17th general election.The President intends to visit the remaining Fijian troops serving abroad with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the United Nations Mission in Liberia at a later date.During his current tour, the President will also visit Fiji's Diplomatic Missions in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Government Injects $10,000 To Develop Fijian Fashion Talent

In its seventh year, the Fiji Fashion Week Limited has entered into a new partnership with the Fijian government to open up fresh opportunities for students to acquire the skills and career pathways in fashion designing. This development follows a $10,000 grant presented to the Fiji Fashion Week Limited by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation. The official grant signing that took place at the Ministry headquarters in Suva, marked a new development in developing young Fijian talent. The cheque of $10,000 was presented by the Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Josefa Koroivueta to the Managing Director of Fiji Fashion Week Ltd, Mrs Ellen Whippy-Knight. In appreciation of the new areas of collaboration, Mrs Whippy Knight said the grant from government is a timely assistance to boost the fashion designing industry in Fiji. “The Fiji Fashion Week is really appreciative of this support from the government which has been initiated by very entrepreneurial minister for women Madam Dr Jiko Luveni and her support has been absolutely unwavering towards promoting Fiji’s emerging fashion industry that is creating employment and opportunities for women to improve their livelihood. “Fashion is the fourth largest industry in the world and it’s predominantly women who are employed in many capacities of fashion, designing and modeling. This year the focus for Fiji Fashion Week is to capitalize on the tourism industry and resort wears and promoting fashion designing as an alternative career pathway for students in Fiji,” Mrs Whippy Knight said. The $10,000 grant will be invested into organising the Fiji Fashion Week’s Fiji

Fashion and Designing Forum which is scheduled for May 27th at the Grand Pacific Hotel. “One of the key speakers at the forum would be the professor Mandy Smith, the fashion and designing educator from Auckland University. This would be an informative session for students from University of the South Pacific (USP) and Fiji National University (FNU) along with various school students to acquire greater knowledge about fashion and designing. “The Minister, Dr Jiko Luveni’s support towards this initiative has been grateful and this forum would open up another opportunity for field of study and see students taking up career into Fiji’s Fashion Industry. Because the way we look at it is that not everybody is academic, lot of young people are talented into designing and this would be a way to nurture that talent and turn it into a recognized profession,” explained the Director of Fiji Fashion Week. As part of the new partnership, further discussions will be organised between the Ministry of Women, Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Education with the Fiji Fashion Week Limited to expand fashion courses and skills development opportunities to youths and students. “The Ministry is delighted to provide this much needed support to the Fiji Fashion Week and this will certainly make a bigger impact in the lives of the women and children in Fiji. This new levels of partnership will complement the ministry’s vision on empowering the women and disadvantaged persons. The Ministry will work cohesively with Fiji Fashion Week and other relevant ministries to pursue the new platform to provide career in fashion designs and also to unfold the designing talents of Fiji’s rural women,” Dr Koroivueta said.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com16 Fiji News

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Taxi Drivers Wary Of Free Ride

Taxi operators in the Western Division are concerned about passengers who do not pay taxi fares.Fiji Taxi Association acting general secretary Mohammed Shameem said while this was a national problem, the organisation received numerous complaints from the west."Taxi operators have been taking passengers to their destinations but upon reaching, some people try to con the drivers and don't pay their fares," he said."These taxi operators have lodged complaints with the police and the Fiji

Taxi Association as well."He said this issue was important because it concerned the livelihood of taxi operators.He said another problem was when taxi operators failed to report such issues."Unless they report these issues, this will never come to our attention and we would be unaware of any problem."This is why we are urging all taxi operators to come forward and report to either the Fiji Taxi Association or police."We also ask police personnel to consider the complaint if it comes."

Risky AccountsFiji has adequate laws and institutional measures in place to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, says Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit director Razim Buksh.His comments followed a decision by ANZ Bank to close the accounts of money remittance service (MRS) providers.He said this move by the bank was a global business decision based on their assessment of money laundering risks."ANZ and the FIU have been in discussions on this issue and there is a general willingness by ANZ to work with the regulators in Fiji on this matter," he said.He said the bank was free to make decisions on who they engaged as their customers based on their assessment of money laundering risks, adding such a decision should be carefully considered and aligned with the regulatory and AML enforcement environment in place within the jurisdiction the ANZ

Bank operated."The Financial Transactions Reporting (FTR) Act is one of the important anti-money laundering laws of Fiji. All MRS providers are covered by the FTR Act and have been complying with this law since 2006 when it first came into force."MRS providers operating in Fiji are obligated by law to implement AML controls and measures including conducting customer due diligence on their customers, monitoring their customers' transactions, reporting suspicious and other types of transactions to FIU, and providing regular training to their staff members on AML requirements."He said enforcement action may be taken on any financial institution including any money transfer company that failed to comply with the FTR Act.He said sanctions were provided under the FTR Act to deal with any serious non-compliance by any remittance service provider.

Patients Need Family SupportSt Giles Hospital medical superintendent Dr Peni Biukoto believes the absence of a community support system is a contributing factor leading people with mental health problems on the streets.He said although there had been no known study to determine whether there was an increase in the number of people with mental health problems living on the streets, clinical experiences showed lack of support from their immediate families."The truth is that no study has been done to know the cause of a person(s) with mental illness living on the street in Fiji," Dr Biukoto said.Statistics provided to this newspaper indicates that readmission rate had not

dropped for the first quarter of the year.In January this year 373 patients were seen in the outpatients department, 358 for February and 372 for March.From this figures, 45 were admitted for January, 30 for February and 29 for March which also revealed 11 patients returning to the hospital in January and had been recorded as re-admission patients, 23 re-admissions for February and 21 for March.For the month of January 29 patients visited the hospital for the first time, 24 in February and 35 in March.The figures also stated the hospital recorded four cases where people who came in for treatment for the month of January were suicidal, two for the month of February and two for March.


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Labour Party ProtestsThe Fiji Labour Party has registered a protest to President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, calling on Elections Minister and A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to step down from his post immediately.In the letter of protest, dated May 12, 2014, party leader Mahendra Chaudhry claimed the electoral process for September 17 election would be tainted should Mr Sayed-Khaiyum continue to retain ministerial oversight now that he was the proposed general secretary for the proposed Fiji First organisation."The Elections Office and the Electoral Commission should be absolutely independent of any ministerial control, interference or influence," Chaudhry said.In the protest, the former prime minister requested Ratu Epeli to intervene and exercise his powers in the public interest to ensure that justice was served and the election was conducted in a transparent, free, fair and credible manner."We trust you will do the right thing by the people of Fiji. Your Excellency, the ordinary observer perceives this as a blatant case of abuse of authority and office."It is not consistent with past practice. In the past, the Electoral Commission was responsible directly to Parliament

through the Office of the President."Chaudhry believes it is essential in the interest of transparency and accountability in matters of governance that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum steps aside."However, there may be serious consequences if he is not removed. It will certainly reflect on the credibility of the elections. We feel strongly about the conflict of interest inherent in the case hence our writing to you to register our protest."He said the party intended to take the issue further with the international community.Mr Sayed-Khaiyum told this newspaper the law remained clear on the duties and status of the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections."The law is quite clear, the elections commission is independent, the Supervisor of Elections is independent, and you have the Electoral Decree, it is very clear and very simple."Like I said, the comments made by these people are not worth responding to," he said.Acting official secretary at the Office of the President Alena Mataitoga yesterday said she was not aware of the written protest as the official secretary Pene Baleinabuli was out of the country with Ratu Epeli.

Make Salary Details Public, FLP Tells PM

The Fiji Labour Party has called on the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to provide audited accounts of his salary dating back to April 2010 to back up his salary claims.In an address during the Rotuman Day celebration on the island, the head of government said he is not paid $1.7million as claimed by a political party.He did not reveal what his exact salary was only saying he will do so upon receipt of the registration of his proposed FijiFirst party by the Fijian Elections Office."You will find out what my salary is after the registration of the proposed FijiFirst, when I will provide the declaration of my assets and liabilities to the Fijian Elections Office," he had told Rotumans on the day.However, Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says this should be public information "as they have always been prior to 2010.""Doing so is absolutely nescessary to establish the truth in this matter so that the people can be correctly informed," Chaudhry said,Claims have been made that the Prime Minister is paid separate salaries for

each portfolio he holds.However, Bainimarama had said these critics need to provide proof and engage in more honest campaigning and communicate their policies on the basis of honesty, sincerity, in love and affection for the benefit of Fijians who will head to the polls on September 17.According to the Fijian Government website, the Prime Minister is also Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics; Public Service; People's Charter for Change and Progress; Minister for Information and National Archives of Fiji; Minister for I-Taukei; Sugar Industry, and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources.Meanwhile, according to a Public Service Commission release , dated October 19, 2000, the Prime Minister in the People's Coalition government received a net pay on a fortnightly basis of $2,901.93, the Deputy Prime Minister in that government received a net pay of $2,343.50, the Attorney-General got a net salary of $2,239.55.

The net pay for ministers was set at $2,189.46 while assistant ministers received a net pay of $1,643.32.

Man Tells Of Burglary HorrorA homeowner relived a robbery ordeal he and his family went through two years ago when three men forced their way into their house.Ajay Narayan gave evidence in the trial of Filipe Delana, Sanaila Tabuavula and Jone Di Atulaga.The three men are charged with four counts of aggravated robbery and one of theft of motor vehicle.Mr Narayan told the court that his son was the first one to wake up on the day of the robbery.He said it was around 3am.He said his son, then woke him and his wife up and asked them to call the

police as he heard someone trying to shake the burglar bars loose.Mr Narayan said the lights in the house were switched on by the time the three men came into the house.He said his son was hit on the head with a metal strap and brought into his room.Mr Narayan said his wife told the three men that they could take whatever they wanted but not to hurt the family.He said two of the men wore masks while one had none.Mr Narayan said he could recognise this man and when asked to identify the man with no mask in court, Mr Narayan pointed at Mr Delana.

Ministry Of Health Trains 80 Nurses

A total of 80 nurses have been trained so far this year as the Ministry of Health aims to improve professionalism and ethics within the profession. The Ministry of Health said part of the training of the Elite Nursing squad also covers ways to address patient complaints. The training initiative will also allow better response to patient needs. They said the impact of the training on nursing practice and patient care will also be evaluated. Following the training the nurses will

also go to various hospitals around the country imparting their knowledge with colleagues. Among the resource personnel who provided training was former High Court Judge and Fiji’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nazhat Shaeem. In total 25 nurses have been trained for CWM and the Central Division, 30 for the Lautoka Hospital and the Western Division and 25 for Labasa Hospital and the Northern Division.

New Japanese Ambassador To Fiji Presents Credentials

His Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau received the credentials of the new Japanese Ambassador to Fiji His Excellency Mr Takuji Hanatani. Ambassador Hanatani was welcomed by the head of state at Government House as he presented his Letters of Credence. The ambassador, who graduated from Ritsumeikan University under the Faculty of Law, comes in as predecessor, Mr Eiichi Oshima, completed his term this year. Mr Hanatani joined the Japanese Foreign Service in 1979 and has served at Japan’s diplomatic establishments including positions such as Minister in Embassy of Japan in Kenya, Minister

in Embassy of Japan in Belgium and Consul-General of Japan in Atlanta, the Unites States. He is also accredited to Vanuatu during this term.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com18 Fiji News

Cardo Goes With Indian TasteCardo Slatter is one of the most famous names in the restaurant business in Fiji and has a long string of successes behind him.Cardo has done enough and is in the nice position where he could retire. But the boy from Flagstaff is not one to want to sit back and do nothing.He has now launched a new restaurant business near the Denarau Island tourism mecca. His new addition is fast becoming one of the in places in Nadi. And yet another Cardo business success story.Cardo started his restaurant career in Suva where he spent some time working for others until he decided that he could do better by himself.He worked hospitality stints in the Mamanucas for the likes of ‘Uncle Dan Costello” and Reg Raffe, who were pioneers of the trade in the islands.He gained great prominence with his famous Cardo’s Steak House in the

lane just behind McDonalds in Suva.This became a mecca for steak lovers and a legend grew up about Cardo’s grandfather being shipwrecked in the Koro Sea with a whole boatload of magnificent cattle.They were some unkind suggestions that Cardo might have started this legend.Cardo was one of the first people to see the potential in Denarau and he built and operated the Wet Mongoose restaurant and Bar, where the Port Denarau Marina is now.When the Denarau shopping complex was being built Cardo moved in and grabbed the best site there.His business has now been operating on this site for over 17 years and is world famous. His children have now grown up and are very involved in the business so Cardo decided to start a new venture.And, typical of Cardo, it was something new.

Quadruplets - Mother Lost No 4

Quadruplet mum thinks of fourth son who died a few days after birth

Miri Waqavulagi with her triplet (from left): Luke Waqa, Isikeli Delaivuna and Asaeli Vivili Delaivuna and her elder son at their Suvavou Village home

There is never a day that goes by that I never think about my son who has left us, says Fiji’s first quadruplet mother, Meri Waqavulagi.The quadruplets, called “my little men” by their mother, had created history by being the first on record to be born in Fiji.Apenisa Bolatagici, who was the second to be born and weighed 1.7kg, passed away a few days after birth.“I really miss him and wished that he was with his brothers today but I believe he is in a better place,” Mrs Waqavulagi said.“When I was told that he passed away I didn’t know how to react and I also got sick.”

Mrs Waqavulagi is grateful to be back at home with her “little men” and described the feeling as exciting.“I have been in the hospital for a month and few days waiting for my son Usaeli Vivili to be discharged from the incubator,” she said.“Usaeli was also born with the weight of 1.7kg; my other two sons were with me for two weeks before Usaeli was brought to me on Monday.”She said they had some planning to do but was looking forward to it.Mrs Waqavulagi is a stay-at-home mother while her husband is a craftsman at the Handicrafts Centre in Suva.

Strict NZ Laws Keep Sick Girl Away From Family

A Fijian family now living in New Zealand is pleading with authorities to allow their sick daughter to travel and rejoin them as her medical condition has been bad.The family claims that strict Immigration New Zealand laws are stopping the 20-year-old from leaving Fiji.Archana Arishma Kumar who has congenital heart condition is struggling to survive alone in the family home in Nadi and neighbours found her collapsed on the floor last week.Her distraught mother and father, Savitri and Shiu Kumar, of New Plymouth, have residency in NZ with the rest of the family but Arishma cannot be granted a visitor’s visa.An Immigration New Zealand manager said the organisation "completely rejects" any assertion it was responsible for forcing the Kumar family apart."INZ acknowledges the difficulty of the situation facing Miss Kumar and her family and has done everything it could over the years to facilitate Miss Kumar remaining in New Zealand lawfully while exercising her options to gain residence," INZ operations support area manager Michael Carley said yesterday in a statement."INZ has declined to grant a visitor visa to Miss Kumar as she does not have an acceptable standard of health and has previously been unlawfully in New Zealand," Carley said.The daughter was not included in the family's application for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category in August 2008, he said.When she did apply for residence as a dependent child in February 2010, INZ declined both the application and a medical waiver citing an unacceptable standard of health."It is a key requirement that all non-New Zealanders coming to New Zealand must have an acceptable standard of health so as not to impose undue costs

on the public health system," Carley said. Arishma’s mother, Savitri told the Taranaki Daily News that she must now leave her husband and their three other children and return to Fiji."I can't leave my daughter like that. There is no-one to look after her if she gets sick."I am going back permanently to look after her and our family is breaking up."Specialists have informed the family there is no surgical or medical treatment that can help. The diagnosis is that her congenital heart condition will worsen.The Kumars dispute the claim that Arishma overstayed her permit. They believe she was granted extra time to appeal and left for Fiji on the date she was given in January last year.They have offered to sign a bond to pay all her medical costs.Carley said the Immigration and Protection Tribunal dismissed an appeal backing up the decision "because no evidence was put forward that treatment of her condition would cost less than $25,000". The IPT said it was in no doubt she was not included in the rest of the family's application because her health would have jeopardised the application for the entire family "and that it was disingenuous for Miss Kumar's parents to assert otherwise".The IPT also found there were no special circumstances to take to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse. When the young woman requested intervention by the Associate Immigration Minister Nikki Kaye, she declined to intervene, Carley said.Yesterday New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young said his office had been engaging with the Kumars since 2009 and made representations to the associate minister of Immigration."I feel we've gone the extra mile with them but their applications and appeals have been declined by Immigration NZ."

Cardo owns a large piece of land close to Denarau, on the road in, where he had been selling imported terracotta pots for a number of years.It is right opposite to the proposed site for the Casino, another bit of Cardo good luck. So he built a restaurant from the ground up.It’s called the Bombay Curry House and Beer Garden and it is fast becoming the in place for the local Nadi and Denarau residents.The food is an extensive choice of Indian dishes with a specialty of goat curry. His Rogan Josh is also getting rave reviews.There is a full menu of condiments and a nice range of Naan, freshly baked to order. A new innovation is a pizza wood fired oven with a range of typical Indian tastes to choose from. Again, all pizzas are freshly baked to order.The Curry House will also let you choose the degree of heat you want

in your curry, ranging from mild to “you’ve got to be joking”.The drinks list is surprisingly well priced with a Fiji Bitter long neck at just $6.00. Cardo has a well thought out wine list and again the prices are sensible.Mains start from $15.00 with the top mark of $25.00. Most people comment on the reasonable prices and the high quality of the food.There is an indoor dining room and a very large outdoor verandah with timber trestle tables and bench seating.There is also a nice open-air cocktail bar and there is heaps of free parking. The whole restaurant has the Cardo touch of quality and price.You can also spend a couple of hours with friends in the beer garden and not be asked to order food.In summary, a really good place if you are an Indian food lover. It comes with friendly atmosphere and good service.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com 19World News

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India's General Election Comes To A Close, Record 551 Million

Votes Cast

Polls have closed after the final phase of voting in India's general election, ending a process which began five weeks ago.A record 551 million voters cast their ballots which saw a turnout of 66.38 per cent, organizers of the contest said. Around 814 million people had been eligible to vote.The figure shattered the previous record of 417 million for any general election set in India five years ago, election commission director general Akshay Rout told reporters.Voting took place in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal on the last day of the world's biggest election.The main opposition candidate and frontrunner Narendra Modi was hoping to win the seat of Varanasi in one of the last contests of the election, the results of which are due to be announced on Friday.Mr Modi, a charismatic but divisive hardliner, is confident he'll win the

lion's share of seats there."I am in favour of running the government in a very professional manner," he said."The biggest crisis that the country faces today is a crisis of confidence."India faces a crisis of stagnancy, we need to give it momentum - if we can start on these, then other things will start moving on their own."His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win the most seats and end the Congress party's 10 years in power, although it is unlikely to secure an outright majority in the 543-seat parliament.Exit polls should indicate whether the BJP will be able to govern in a coalition with existing parliamentary allies or will have to seek new partners.The Congress Party and its main candidate, Rahul Gandhi, have run a subdued campaign that has many experts suggesting that India's oldest political party is expecting a beating.

Indians cast their vote at a local polling station on the final phase of national elections in Varanasi on May 12, 2014.

Lawyer For Pakistan Doctor Jailed Over Bin Laden Hunt Quits Amid Threats To Family, US Pressure

The lawyer defending a Pakistani doctor jailed after helping the CIA find Osama bin Laden is quitting the case because of death threats and alleged US interference in the trial."I am getting threats on a regular basis. Not only is my life in danger, my family is also in danger. I have therefore decided to quit," lawyer Samiullah Afridi said.Mr Afridi is representing Dr Shakil Afridi, who was jailed for 33 years after helping the CIA find the Al Qaeda chief. Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan until US Navy Seals killed him in a 2011 raid.The raid - and Dr Afridi's jail sentence - severely strained relations between the US and Pakistan, its nominal ally.Dr Afridi's sentence was later overturned.He is still in jail and undergoing a retrial, but his lawyer says the US government is unduly interfering."The government of America is putting a lot of pressure on the Pakistani government for the release of Dr Shakil Afridi," he said."Our mission and our wish also was to

get him released, but our courts are free and they have to work according to a set procedure. I therefore did not like America's unjustified pressure."A US embassy spokeswoman was not immediately able to comment on the allegations.Relations icy since 2011 raidRelations between two allies were icy after the Bin Laden raid.Pakistan's powerful army was furious that the US had mounted a military operation on its soil without advance warning.In turn, some US leaders were suspicious that Pakistani security forces may have helped shield bin Laden.After it emerged that Dr Afridi had run a fake vaccination campaign in an effort to help the CIA find bin Laden, Pakistani authorities jailed him for alleged links to militants.The sentence provoked outrage in the US and the government cut a symbolic $33 million from an aid package to Pakistan.Several militant groups, including the Taliban, have threatened to kill Dr Afridi if he is ever released.

Man Dies At Auckland CemeteryBystanders rushed to help a man who dropped dead while cleaning his parents' graves on Mother's Day.The 68-year-old was in the historic Wesleyan area of Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery when he collapsed around midday.Bystanders, including a nurse, rushed to help him and he was given CPR at 12.14pm, police said.Emergency services were called to the cemetery, which was packed with mourners, however the man died in front of onlookers. A fire appliance carrying lifesaving medical equipment arrived two minutes later.Senior Sergeant Michael Rickards of Waitemata Police said the man collapsed about 12pm while tending to his parents' gravestone. Members of the public tried to revive him but he passed away."He was paying his respects, cleaning their headstone, and he collapsed and he died. We're not sure how."There were no suspicious circumstances.

"Under circumstances where there is a sudden death and the circumstances can't be explained, it becomes a coroner's case.''Four hours later, Auckland Council, which manages the cemetery, still hadn't been notified somebody had died on Council property, despite the cemetery being so busy that even at 4pm, traffic was backed up to the Great North Road entrance.Cemetery Manager Roscoe Webb said today's excellent weather conditions were the reason the cemetery was packed."The more people that come into the cemetery, the more the likelihood of this [a death occurring].''"I guess it's not unusual in a public open space,'' Mr Webb said.While Mr Webb said the site was patrolled regularly by security guards and ``is pretty much on lockdown during normal operating hours,'' he had still not been informed of the death four hours after it occurred.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com20 World News

Identical Monoamniotic Twins Jillian And Jenna Enter The World Holding Hands

TWIN girls, with a rare condition which means they shared the same amniotic sac and placenta, have made a grand entrance into the world, grasping each others’ hands.

The girls, born last week, are now breathing on their own and their mum said she and her husband were able to hold them on Mother’s Day.Sarah Thistlethwaite said babies Jillian and Jenna were removed from ventilators on Sunday afternoon after they were able to breathe comfortably.She told reporters that she and her husband Bill both held them for a while on Mother’s Day.“It’s just hard to put into words how amazing it feels to know the girls are OK,” she said. “It’s great to know that they’re doing so well, and being able to hold them.”

The identical twin girls shared the same amniotic sac and placenta.Such births are called monoamniotic, or “mono mono,” and doctors say they occur in about one of every 10,000 pregnancies.Thistlethwaite said that was “the best Mother’s Day present ever.”“They’re already best friends,” said Thistlethwaite, 32. “I can’t believe they were holding hands. That’s amazing.”Jenna was born first at 4 pounds, 2 ounces (1.87kg) and 17 inches (43.18cm), with Jillian following 48 seconds later at 3 pounds, 13 ounces (1.72kg) and 17.5 inches (44.45cm).

'Star Wars' Robotic Arm For Amputees Approved For Sale In USAn advanced robotic arm for amputees that can perform complex tasks has been approved for sale in the United States.The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has allowed the sale of the DEKA Arm System - dubbed Luke for the Star Wars character Luke Skywalker - after reviewing data, including a US Department of Veterans Affairs study.The study found 90 per cent of people who used the device were able to perform complex tasks that involved multiple, simultaneous movements.These include using keys and locks, feeding themselves, using zippers and brushing and combing hair.The prosthetic arm is controlled by electrodes that pick up muscle contractions in the wearer to send signals to a computer in the device.It was developed by New Hampshire-based DEKA Research and Development Corp, founded by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway and other devices.The Pentagon's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) says it provided more than $42 million in funding to DEKA to develop the robotic arm as part of a $106 million project to improve prosthetics.The Pentagon's involvement came

about because of the type of injuries sustained by US troops in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Pentagon says more than 1,800 US service members underwent major limb amputations as a result of injuries sustained in those wars.A program manager in DARPA's biological technologies office, Justin Sanchez, says the arm was designed to produce near-natural upper extremity control to injured people who have suffered amputations."This arm system has the same size, weight, shape and grip strength as an adult's arm would be able to produce," he said.Mr Sanchez says that until now the best technology available to troops and others who have lost an arm is a metal hook."The metal hook was the most commonly used prosthetic device for the last hundred years," he said."This prosthetic limb system can pick up objects as delicate as a grape, as well be able to handle very rugged tools like a hand drill."The FDA says the robotic arm could be used by people with limb loss occurring at the shoulder joint, mid-upper arm or mid-lower arm, but not at the elbow or wrist joint.

Nigerian Schoolgirls: Girl Who Escaped Boko Haram Abduction

Speaks Publicly About OrdealA teenage girl who managed to escape kidnapping by Islamist group Boko Haram during a night raid in Nigeria last month has spoken publicly about the ordeal, as international assistance to locate more than 200 girls still held hostage ramps up.Militants stormed a secondary school in the village of Chibok, near the Cameroon border, on April 14 and abducted the girls, who were taking exams at the time.In an exclusive interview with CNN, one of the girls, who asked not to be identified, said the kidnappers were loading the girls into seven lorries when she escaped."He said go and enter this car - a big lorry," she said."They say OK - enter this lorry, we go. I say I will drop down."We run in the bush. We ran and ran and we were gone."I feel afraid."More than 200 girls are still being held hostage, and Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says the group intends to sell the teenagers."I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah," he said in a video released shortly after the attack. "Allah has instructed me to sell them. They are his property and I will carry out his instructions."The group's name means "Western education is sinful" and in the video,

Shekau makes reference to the fact that the girls were undergoing Western education.The abduction has sparked worldwide outrage, with several nations offering military and intelligence assistance to locate the girls.Diplomats, aid workers, defence officials and other experts from Britain and the United States have been working with the Nigerian government since last Saturday.Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan says he is optimistic about finding those still held hostage, citing international support, with Israel the latest country to offer help. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not give details of the proposed assistance but Mr Jonathan confirmed the offer to send a team of counter-terrorism experts was made during a phone conversation.A viral social media campaign calling for the schoolgirls' return has seen public figures such as US first lady Michelle Obama tweeting with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.On Sunday, French president Francois Hollande called on African leaders to hold a summit in Paris on security in west Africa.The leaders of at least five African countries - Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin - may take part, a source close to the president said.

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Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com 21World News

Samsung Pledges Compensation For Cancer SufferersSamsung says it will compensate chip factory workers who developed cancer while working for the firm.The company issued its first apology in a long-running dispute and withdrew from a legal bid to avoid paying out.It brings the conflict one step closer to resolution only a month after talks appeared to have stalled.But Samsung's chief executive Kwon Oh-hyun stopped short of admitting a direct link between working at the firm and developing leukaemia.Mr Kwon said: "Several workers at our production facilities suffered from leukaemia and other incurable diseases, which also led to some deaths."We should have settled the issue earlier, and we are deeply heartbroken that we failed to do so and express our deep apology."At a press conference, he said Samsung hoped to "resolve the issue with sincerity and earnestness". In a statement, he added: "We will make due compensation to the victims and the families."'Another Promise' Mr Kwon said that Samsung had failed to pay "careful attention to the pain

and difficulty" of the victims and their families.An independent adjudicator would be set up in order to decide how to deal with each case with fairness and objectivity, with consent from the victims and the families, and Samsung would follow the compensation guidelines determined by it, Kwon said.The world's top chip and smartphone maker did not say how many people might be compensated. But, according

Six Homeschooled Jackson Brothers Allegedly Raped Girl For Years

SIX homeschooled brothers allegedly raped a girl since she was four, telling cops their parents know about the abuse but turned a blind eye.Brothers Eric, Jon, Mathew, Nathaniel, Benjamin and Aaron Jackson are now facing a range of charges including statutory rape and sexual offences, as reported.The brothers, who were homeschooled by their parents, are now between 19 and 27 years old. The girl is now aged 16.The abuse allegedly occurred at the family home in Perquimans County, North Carolina, and took place repeatedly over a decade.Parents John and Nita Jackson have been charged with felony child neglect, with one brother telling authorities his mother repeatedly witnessed the alleged abuse but just walked away.The horrific tale came to light when one of the boys confessed to his pastor that he had sinned. The minister urged him to contact the police, who then turned up at the home to interview the girl. However, the Jackson parents blocked authorities from talking to her — and

later fled to Colorado.In Colorado, the girl confessed the abuse to child protective services, who removed her from the family and allowed cops to finally question the Jackson brothers and parents.Perquimans Country Sheriff Eric Tilly said the boys showed little emotion as they turned themselves in.“I don’t think they know the magnitude of what they’ve done because I don’t think they knew it was wrong,” said Mr Tilley. “They haven’t been taught any differently. I’m not sure when that’s going to sink in exactly what they were doing was wrong.”“Personally, I lay the blame on the parents and their charges are less than what the boys are going to get,” he said. “It’s their responsibility to raise those kids and somewhere along the line, they failed.”“These kids, they do have a belief in the Bible. They knew it was wrong and

they had to get it out,” he said.The brothers are being held on

Charged ... The six Jackson brothers allegedly raped and abused a girl for a decade, beginning from when she was four, as their parents allegedly turned a

blind eye.$US150,000 bail each. The parents have been released on $15,000 bail.

to Agence France-Presse, about 40 employees have filed claims with the state Korean Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service in the past six years.Previously Samsung has pointed to independent studies that found no link between its workplace environment and employee illnesses, and there was no admission of a direct link in its statement on Wednesday.The cases of two of the workers who developed leukaemia were made into

films recently, and the families of those affected have been fighting Samsung in the courts.One of the films, called Another Promise, tells the story of Hwang Sang-ki and his daughter Yu-mi, who died after working for Samsung for four years. The film was crowd-funded and the Korea Herald called its production a "meaningful achievement in Korean cinema".Yu-mi's father insisted her death was a result of her being exposed to dangerous chemicals while working for Samsung at the chip factory in Giheung, just south of Seoul. The case of Hwang Yu-mi, who died in 2007, brought to light what has become a major controversy for Samsung. The family has been fighting a legal battle against the company since her death.For legal reasons, Samsung was not named in the film but the title alluded to one of its well-known slogans: "Another Family".In 2011, the families who joined the battle were given a boost when a Seoul court said toxic chemicals "had caused, or at least expedited" Yu-mi and one other worker's condition.

'Miracle' US Baby Survives 11-Storey FallA baby in the US state of Minnesota has survived an 11-storey fall from an apartment balcony, local media report.Musa Dayib, one, has two arm fractures and is breathing with the help of a ventilator but is expected to live, after slipping through a railing.His doctor said his youth as well as the softer ground he landed on helped contribute to his survival.

Family and friends in Minneapolis's Somali community say the family is in shock."When people found out he survived, no one could believe it," community activist Abdirizak Bihi said."I'm more concerned about his dad and his mother," Mr Bihi said. "They're devastated. They can't even speak."Dr Tina Slusher, who treated Musa,

said an adult who fell from that distance would almost certainly be dead."Little [children] are more flexible and don't break as easily as we do and he also fell in a very small patch of mulch [loose material put on soil]," she told reporters.But she added it was "definitely a miracle. It's God's gift to his family. Kids don't fall this far and make it often."

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com22THINKING OF BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN?

Try This Practice Test - Discover Canada

Continued From Last Week

How A Little Alberta Union Helps Temporary Foreign Workers Become Canadian

The Red Deer-based food workers' union took an unusual step at the start of the program

1) What is a majority government? A. The party in power holds less than half of the seats in the House of Commons.B. The party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons and the Senate.C. The party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons.D. The party in power holds at least half of the seats in the Senate.2) In the Canadian justice system, what are the roles of the courts and the police? A. The courts enforce laws and the

police settle disputes.B. The courts make laws and the police enforce them.C. The courts enforce federal laws and the police enforce provincial laws.D. The courts settle disputes and the police enforce the laws.3) Which country lies on Canada's southern border? A. Central America.B. Mexico.C. Michigan.D. United States of America.4) What is a Cabinet Minister? A. Candidate picked by the Prime Minister.B. MP picked by the Premier of each province.C. MP selected by the Prime Minister to run federal departments.D. MP selected by the Queen to make laws.

5) Who is the leader of the Official Opposition Party of British Columbia? A. John HoganB. Adrain DixC. Christy ClarkD. Gordon Campbell6) Who recommended that the Upper and Lower Canada be merged and given a responsible government? A. Sir Guy Carleton.B. Sir George‐Étienne Cartier.C. Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine.D. Lord Durham.7) What is the most popular spectator sport of Canada? A. Canadian football.B. Soccer.C. Hockey.D. Basketball.8) Who has the right to enter and leave Canada at will?

A. Landed immigrants.B. British citizens.C. Canadian citizens.D. Citizens of United States.9) What was the name of the new country formed in Confederation? A. Canadian Confederation.B. Britain.C. Dominion of Canada.D. Canada.10) What are the parties that are not in power called? A. Opposition parties.B. Candidates.C. Out of power.D. Without power.

ANSWERS1 C 2 D 3 D 4 C 5 A6 D 7 C 8 C 9 C 10 A

"The new members needed to be integrated so … that they felt welcome as part of the union and part of the company and part of the country," said Johnson.The union made that decision before the pilot project came into effect, and thus, from a position of relative bargaining strength.Other unions had a more difficult time. Unions from across the country periodically ask UFCW Local 1118 for copies of their paperwork, wanting to mirror its success. Few were able to. Johnson says most union members don't want to stick out their neck for someone who may be around for only a few years, and employers are reluctant to let go of the "ultimate hammer" held over temporary foreign workers — the threat of sending them home."The fact that migrant workers can easily be sent home, that's the overall reason why people think it's difficult to

form unions," said Chris Ramsaroop, organizer with the Ontario- and B.C.-based Justicia for Migrant Workers group.At the industry-run Canadian Meat Council, Ron Davidson says all of its companies, including Cargill, will support their temporary foreign workers in applications for permanent residency, but he doesn't know how many write it into their labour contracts. Cargill said it's not policy to disclose the details of its collective agreements.Canada's Temporary Foreign Workers Program has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, and the federal government is vowing to clamp down on any companies taking advantage of the program.Labour laws cover foreign workers, but migrant activists say it's often easy to take advantage of these workers by refusing to pay them overtime or worse, because the workers are scattered across the country with few networks of support.A 'pretty hazardous step'

Attempts to bring foreign workers in Canada together in collective action have come in "fits and starts," says Jason Foster, co-ordinator of the Edmonton-based Athabasca University's labour relations program.Often, foreign workers are skeptical of unions, familiar only with the corrupt versions in their homeland. And Foster observes that some union relationships can be contentious. In B.C., for example, two unions are fighting a court battle alleging a power company hired temporary foreign workers after sending a Canadian crane operator home. Some companies are alleged to have brought in short-term workers from abroad to weaken existing unions.Foster points to the Red Deer-based Local 1118 as an "example of a union actively taking on the issue and actively advocating on behalf of temporary foreign workers.""It's hard enough for a permanent resident to successfully organize a union in this country," he says. "If you

have that extra level of precariousness, that's a pretty hazardous step to take."Some foreign workers, like live-in caregivers, have formed informal relationships or support groups in some communities, Foster notes. If an employer mistreats one of them, the caregivers rally together to either confront the employer or offer help. The southern Alberta union notes that the collective agreement hasn't eliminated all problems faced by its short-term workers, but it has given them an enforceable mechanism for dealing with them.Recently, a high-level manager at one company threatened to send a foreign worker home if he didn't acquiesce to a demand, says Johnson. "That person is in a lot of trouble," said Johnson, and "will never say that again."Johnson's ultimate hope, however, is that no such agreement is necessary."There is a need for workers, but it's a permanent need for workers," said Johnson. "It should be an immigration process."


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The Truth About Coconut WaterLow in calories, naturally fat- and cholesterol free, more potassium than four bananas, and super hydrating - these are just a few of the many benefits of coconut water.Dubbed "Mother Nature’s sports drink" by marketers, the demand is skyrocketing, propelled by celebrity and athlete endorsements and promises to hydrate the body and help with a whole host of conditions, from hangovers to cancer and kidney stones.But is coconut water capable of delivering on all the promises or is it hype?What Is Coconut Water?Naturally refreshing, coconut water has a sweet, nutty taste. It contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes. Not to be confused with high-fat coconut milk or oil, coconut water is a clear liquid in the fruit’s center that is tapped from young, green coconuts.It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink. Ounce per ounce, most unflavored coconut water contains 5.45 calories, 1.3 grams sugar, 61 milligrams (mg) of potassium, and 5.45 mg of sodium compared to Gatorade, which has 6.25 calories, 1.75 grams of sugar, 3.75 mg of potassium, and 13.75 mg of sodium.Better Than Some Sugary DrinksCoconut water has less sugar than many sports drinks and much less sugar than sodas and some fruit juices. Plain coconut water could be a better choice for adults and kids looking for a beverage that is less sweet. But

don’t overdo it, says Lillian Cheung, DSc, RD, of Harvard School of Public Health. “One 11-ounce container has 60 calories and if you drink several in one day, the calories can add up quickly," Cheung says.Cheung also suggests being mindful about beverage choices and reading labels to choose plain coconut water and avoid those with added sugar or juices, which are no different from other sugary beverages.Some Athletes Swear By ItProfessional tennis player John Isner credits coconut water with keeping him on his feet for his epic 11-hour marathon Wimbledon tennis win. “It is super hydrating and has kept me going in long matches and prevented me from cramping even in the hottest and most humid conditions,” Isner says.He drinks a mixture of coconut water and water the night before a match in difficult heat conditions and routinely mixes a cocktail of coconut water and sea salt for on-court hydration and mixes it with protein powder for post-match recovery. Coconut water may be better at replacing lost fluids than a sports drink or water -- as long as you enjoy the taste. A study recently published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that coconut water replenishes body fluids as well as a sports drink and better than water but the athletes preferred the taste of the sports drinks.Sports nutritionist Nancy Clark, MS, RD says coconut water won’t rehydrate

the body unless you can drink plenty of it. If you enjoy the taste and can tolerate large amounts, it could help keep you hydrated.A study shows coconut water enhanced with sodium was as good as drinking a commercial sports drink for post-exercise rehydration with better fluid tolerance. Another study reported that coconut water caused less nausea, fullness, and stomach upset and was easier to consume in large amounts during rehydration.What Experts SayStaying hydrated is one of the most important things for recreational and professional athletes. And if the taste of coconut water helps you drink plenty of fluids, it is a fine choice for most people but may not be for those in prolonged physical activity.Coconut water is low in carbohydrates and sodium and rich in potassium, which is not exactly what athletes need when exercising rigorously.Whether you choose a sports drink, coconut water, or plain water, they all work to keep your body hydrated. The challenge is when you exercise strenuously for more than three hours in the heat and lose lots of body fluids; you need easily absorbed carbs for quick energy and to replace lost electrolytes like sodium and potassium.Neither coconut water nor sports drinks contain enough sodium or carbs for the heavy perspirer. Supplement with a quick source of energy like a banana or some raisins and a handful of pretzels

to provide nutrients to replenish your stores.Recovery starts before exercise begins. Most people don’t need to worry about calories, potassium, or sodium. Eat a bagel with peanut butter to get food into your system before and drink plenty of water during exercise. If you exercise for prolonged periods, eat salty pretzels and raisins or other portable sources of energy.Bottom LineThere are some health benefits to consuming coconut water. It’s an all-natural way to hydrate, reduce sodium, and add potassium to diets. Most people don’t get enough potassium in their diets because they don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables, or dairy, so coconut water can help fill in the nutritional gaps.Beyond that, the scientific literature does not support the hype that it will help with a laundry list of diseases. There is a lot of hype about coconut water, yet the research is just not there to support many of the claims and much more research is needed.Coconut water is fine for recreational athletes -- but so are plain water or sports drinks. In general, most adults don’t exercise strenuously enough to need sports drinks or coconut water because good, old-fashioned water works just fine.If you enjoy the taste and your budget allows it, coconut water is a nutritious and relatively low-calorie way to add potassium to your diet and keep you well-hydrated.


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Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com26 Recipe

Spiced Lamb With Lemon & Herb Quinoa

Ingredients1 tbsp cumin seed 1 garlic clove ¼ tsp red chilli or pinch of chilli flakes juice 1 lemon 4 tbsp olive oil 8 lamb chops 250g quinoa 5 spring onions, sliced small handful coriander steamed stem broccoli, to serveMethodIn a food processor crush cumin seeds then add garlic clove, chilli and some salt and pepper. Make a paste. Stir in the lemon juice and olive oil and pour half the mix over the lamb chops and leave to marinate. Set the other half

aside. Rinse the quinoa in cold water then place in a saucepan with twice the volume of water. Place on the heat and bring to the boil then turn down the heat slightly and boil gently for 10 mins. Turn the heat off and stir through the reserved dressing. Cover and leave for another 10 mins. Meanwhile heat a griddle pan or grill to high and cook the lamb for about 3-5 mins on each side or until cooked to your liking. When ready to serve stir the spring onions and coriander through the quinoa and serve with the lamb and steamed stem broccoli dressed in a drizzle more oil.Mediterranean Dish

Spicy Chilli Paneer Ingredients1/2 slab of paneer - cut in small rectangular cubes7-8 green chillies - slit half cross-sectional and cut in length1/2 onion - diced into long thin strips1/2 bell pepper diced into thin strips4-5 tbsp soy sauce3 tbsp vegetable oil2 tsp ginger - shredded2 tsp garlic paste1 tsp sugarsalt/black pepper - to tasteMethod

Take a pan and heat the oil in it. Add the green chillies, and onions. Saute till they become golden brown. Then add ginger, garlic paste and capsicum and cook till all veggies are tender. Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Finally mix in the paneer cubes and cook everything together on medium flame for 8-10 mins. Do not add water!!Remove from flame, garnish with more slit green chillies and chopped green onion leaves. Serve your Spicy and Tasty Chilli Paneer piping hot with plain or fried rice!!

Coconut Flan With Caribbean Treasure Sauce

Ingredients FLAN:5 eggs1/2 cup granulated sugar2 cups coconut milk1 cup Carnation® Evaporated Milk1 tsp vanillaSAUCE:600g frozen mixed fruit125 mL brown sugar50 mL orange juice or waterFresh mint leavesPreparationFLAN:In a bowl, beat eggs until combined. Stir in sugar. Add coconut milk, evaporated milk and vanilla. Pour mixture into lightly greased ½ cup (125 mL) ramekins. Place ramekins in a baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come half way up outsides of cups.Bake in a preheated 350ºF (180ºC) oven for 35 minutes, or until flan is

firm at edges and a sharp knife inserted in centre comes out clean. Remove ramekins from water and cool on rack for 30 minutes, then refrigerate 4 hours or until cold.SAUCE:In a bowl, defrost frozen fruit until soft enough to cut peaches into smaller pieces. In a saucepan, combine sugar and juice and cook over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture just come to a boil. Pour over fruit.To serve, run a sharp knife around the edge of flan. Place a small serving dish over top. Invert and shake slightly until custard drops. Spoon sauce around each flan. Garnish with mint. TIPS:• Coconut flans can be covered (after cooling) and refrigerated up to two days ahead. Sauce can be covered and refrigerated up to one day ahead.

RaitaIngredients2 cups light sour cream 1 cucumber - grated1 carrot - grated1 clove of garlic - minced1 fresh ground chili

1 tspn cumin seeds - toasted and groundsalt to tastegarnish with chopped cilantroMethodMix all together and serve as a condiment with any curry dish.


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BC Bad Tenants Must Pay Or Go To Jail

Susan and Chris Perret owe almost $40,000, landlords say

The B.C. couple exposed as serial bad tenants by CBC last month are facing more court action and possible jail time as the full cost of their apparent scam becomes clear.On April 28, a judge in Port Coquitlam small claims court ordered Susan and Chris Perret to repay $6,000 to former landlord Suman Parasad by June 9, or go to jail.Parasad was the first landlord to take the Perrets to small claims court over unpaid rent, claiming the pair racked up almost $8,000 in arrears in 2013.Two more landlords have since contacted the CBC to say they have been the victim of the Perrets' apparent scam.A total of eight landlords are now working together to fight back as a group."They know every single rule in the book," Matthew Huotari, the eighth landlord to come forward told CBC.Huotari — who contacted the CBC after seeing the story with the Perrets' photo — said the pair's actions amount to fraud."If you add all of us together, it's a huge amount of money that they've scammed."Landlords say they are owed $39,650Counting up all the arrears the landlords claim they are owed by the Perrets, including unpaid rent, utilities, bailiffs' fees, cleaning, fees from bounced cheques, court fees and lost rent from vacancies following broken leases, the amount owed totals $39,650 since July 2012.July - Sept. 2012: Evicted. Money owed: $7500 Sept. 2012: Evicted. Money owed: $3750 Oct. 2012 - Mar. 2013: Evicted. Money

owed: $7900 Mar. - May 2013: Evicted. Money Owed: approx $5000 June - Oct. 2013: Evicted. Money owed: $7500 Nov. 2013 - Jan 2014: Evicted. $3000 Jan. - Mar. 2014: Evicted. $5000The Perrets' current landlord had served an eviction notice after a cheque bounced, but says since the CBC story aired, arrears have been cleared and monthly rent is now being paid in cash.The landlord is continuing to fight for an eviction based on the couple's history.Criminal case?Nicole Read, who rented to the Perrets for six months and says she is owed $7500, called the RCMP and was advised to file a complaint on behalf of all eight landlords."There is some kind of pattern here that I think shows they don't have an intention to pay rent," she told the CBC.Read says that while she was waiting

on overdue rent, Susan Perret was posting about a trip to Las Vegas on her Facebook page."We couldn't believe that people would actually do this... the sort of entitlement they felt living in our house not paying rent."Read went to the RCMP after the Perrets' current landlord failed to persuade the Residential Tenancy Board to evict the couple based on their history.Rich Coleman, minister responsible for housing in B.C., says that, while most disputes between landlords and tenants in the province are resolved under the Residential Tenancy Act, this case is beyond its purview."If you have a fraud complaint, that's well outside the jurisdiction of the act," he said."And if it's a fraud and [the landlords] want to pursue it criminally, they should go to the police."Coleman said they should also pursue action in Small Claims Court.

The CBC contacted the Perrets for comment, but received no response.Previously, Susan Perret told CBC that she "had issues" with the four landlords named in the initial story.Later, confronted at a rental home by CBC's Natalie Clancy, Perret refused to answer questions."Talk to my lawyer," she said. But Perret refused to give the CBC the name of her lawyer.What can landlords do?Landlord B.C. is one organization aiming to assist landlords looking for help in selecting tenants. Members pay $150 a year and get credit and background checks on prospective tenants for just $8.The association says it uses the screening company Tenant Verification Service Inc., which is based in Surrey, and gives small landlords the tools to assess credit worthiness of potential renters.There are also several online services to help landlords weed out potential problem renters, such as Equifax, which produces credit-check reports starting at about $22.3 tips for landlords for safe renting:Do your research: Study B.C.'s Residential Tenancy Act (or other provinces' tenancy acts), and ensure you know and understand the rules.Run a credit check: Get all prospective renters to sign an application agreeing to a credit background check, and register as a landlord with a credit reporting company. Do the credit check before you sign the lease.Confirm, confirm, confirm: Make a copy of ID documents and confirm each renter's identity. Don't rent without at least two references from previous landlords, and follow up with those landlords.

Port Coquitlam Couple Losing Condo Over Parking SpotChung-Fu and Huei-Chi Yang Bea lose six-year fight with strata over assigned parking

A Port Coquitlam, B.C. couple are losing their condo following a six-year court battle involving 50 appearances before 28 different judges in dozens of courts — all over their apartment's parking spot.In a 14-page ruling, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Christopher Grauer says the problems began in August 2006 when a dispute over parking at the condo complex at 2378 Rindall Ave. led the strata council to declare the parking area common property and assign specific parking spots to units.Cheng-Fu Bea and his his wife Huei-Chi would not accept their strata's decision and launched a petition in B.C. Supreme Court, which Grauer says was their right.The court ruled the strata was well within its jurisdiction to implement the new parking regime.Instead of appealing the decision, the Beas launched a series of new

petitions, all of which failed because the argument had already been heard. The petitions were followed by a series of appeals, that according to the strata's lawyer Phil Dougan, eventually involved 28 different judges in dozens of courts, none of which succeeded.Meanwhile, Grauer says the Beas continued to disobey the order restricting them to their assigned parking spot. The strata, which Dougan says has incurred $173,000 in legal costs defending itself from the Beas court actions over six years, finally applied for a contempt of court ruling.The Beas also owe $53,000 in court costs."There's no rhyme or reason to it," Dougan told the reporter. "It's simply been Mr. and Mrs. Bea trying again and again to find any judge they could, who might agree with them in several petitions that all argue the same thing."Contempt of court

In a sternly worded judgment, Grauer says a person's property rights would usually be irrelevant to an appropriate sanction in a contempt of court proceeding, but "This case is not normal," wrote Grauer."Here, the property interest in question is precisely what fuels the Beas’ contemptuous acts and gives rise to the injustice that results.""In this case, it appears certain that Mrs. Bea is destined to lose her property in any event through the enforcement of the many judgments for costs registered against it."The question is whether the owners

should be put through the additional expense and frustration of proceeding in that way in the face of the Beas’ unremitting pattern of abuse of the court process, and the ever-mounting costs of dealing with them. I think not. The time to end their abuse of the court’s process is now."The judge has given the Beas until June 15 to vacate the property and has authorized the RCMP to remove them by force if necessary.Dougan says his clients are pleased, but fear an appeal.As for the parking spot, it sells with the unit.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com28 Canada News

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B.C. Recycling Program Begins Monday

Multi-Material BC means businesses, not taxpayers, will pay for curbside recycling

The B.C. government's controversial new recycling program kicks in on Monday, despite criticism from small business owners who could face hefty bills under the new rules.Currently, municipalities have to pay to recycle the materials that are produced in B.C., but under the new program, called Multi Material BC (MMBC), some businesses will have to cover those costs themselves.A non-profit organization funded by these businesses will then operate residential recycling programs in many areas across B.C., with a wider range of materials eligible for curbside recycling.Clifford Jones is concerned the new costs will hit his business, Tri-V Pet Foods, which produces cat and dog food — and the steel alloy cans in which it's packaged — in Chilliwack B.C."It's pretty easy to lose sleep when you know a big bill of this size is coming up to hit you soon. Trying to figure out where you're going to get the money from to pay for this," said Jones.Jones ships his pet food all over BC and says the province will charge him 50 cents per kilogram of steel alloy can he produces."In my particular case it would be $10,000 per month that we can ill afford to pay. We just have a small company with 12 employees."Jones says he thinks as many as 3,000 small businesses like his are in similar situations and some of those are appealing to the B.C. government to help keep costs down.Shifting the cost away from taxpayersSo far, the province is refusing to budge and B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak says the new program will help save municipalities money and increase what you can recycle. "Everybody struggles with packaging now and again, has unwanted paper they have to deal with, and instead of taxpayers having to deal with it, the users of the packaging and the paper should have to pay for it," she said.Polak says the entire program will cost around $100 million across the province, 80 per cent of which will be covered by the biggest 150 companies in B.C.

In Jones' case, Polak says he may have been misinformed as to his obligations."Part of the challenge is trying to get accurate information out to those companies," she said. "We're going to follow up with this company. We've heard of their concern. But in cases like this very often it's a miscalculation."Jones says he's all for recycling, but calls the new program confusing and expensive."It's stressful for the employees; it's stressful for everyone involved in this, not knowing what's going to be happening."Despite the added expense, Jones says he will sign up for the new program as required on Monday, but fears he and other businesses will be forced to pass the cost along to consumers.What materials can I recycle under MMBC?• Paper• Newspapers, inserts and flyers • Magazines • Catalogues • Phone books; directories • Paper gift wrap and greeting cards • Writing/home office paper and

correspondenceCardboard• Cardboard boxes e.g. pizza or

dessert boxes • Egg cartons • Paper bags • Paper pet food bags • Paper cups e.g. coffee cups • Milk cartons • NO JUICE CARTONSContainers• Steel, aluminum or spiral cans e.g.

soup tins or baby formula • Aerosol cans • Aluminum foil and containers • Plastic jugs, bottles or jars e.g. for

milk, detergent or peanut butter • Plastic clamshell or tray packaging

e.g. for fruit, pastries, chicken • Plastic tubs, pails or cups e.g. for

margarine, ice-cream or take-out beverages

• Microwaveable plates, cups • Glass bottles and jars • NO JUICE CONTAINERS • NO PROPANE TANKSFor more details, visit the Multi-Material BC residents' website: http://recyclinginbc.ca/.

Canada Orders Extradition To India Over Bride Killing

The mother and uncle of a Canadian woman killed 14 years ago have been ordered extradited to India in stand trial in her alleged "honour killing".Malkit Kaur Sidhu and Surjit Singh Badesha are accused of ordering the murder after Jaswinder Sidhu, 25, married a rickshaw driver.She was killed in Punjab in June 2000 after she travelled there to reunite with her husband.The family has denied involvement in Sidhu's death and may appeal.Several people have already been convicted of the killing in India.'Campaign of terror' Her mother and uncle were arrested in 2012 on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Last Friday, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Gregory Fitch ordered

the two to be extradited to India to faces charges there.Jaswinder Sidhu secretly married Mithu Sidhu instead of the wealthy, older man her family reportedly preferred. She fled to India to reunite with her husband a few months after her family learned of the marriage.Soon after, the couple was attacked while on a motor scooter - he was beaten and she was killed.Prosecutors alleged Mr Badesha had made hundreds of calls to the men eventually convicted of the murder, first starting after her marriage became public, according to the media.Lawyers for the pair admitted the family was upset with the marriage, but that it did not prove they killed Jaswinder.They will remain in Canadian custody until the extradition but may appeal.

Netflix Speed Rankings Place Bell 1St, Rogers Last

Streaming company adds Canada to global list monitoring online data speedsA ranking by streaming company Netflix says Bell has the fastest internet speeds in Canada, and Rogers has the slowest.Netflix included Canada in its global rankings for the first time last month, adding it to a list of 20 countries in which it operates and monitors how data transfer is getting faster — or slower — over time.Netflix customers who streamed movies or TV shows through Bell's fibre optic network in April had an average speed of 3.19 megabits per second, while Rogers' average speed was just 1.67 Mbps, the company said.Those two companies were the fastest and slowest, respectively, in Netflix's rankings of 14 Canadian ISPs. Requests for comment by CBC News to both companies were not immediately returned.Netflix's complete Canadian rankings, with speeds, were as follows:Bell Canada (fibre optic), 3.19 Mbps Bell Aliant (fibre optic), 3.1 Shaw, 3 Videotron, 2.82 Cogeco, 2.78 Eastlink, 2.76 Teksavvy, 2.76 Distributel, 2.73 Telus, 2.54 Bell Canada (DSL) 2.53 Allstream, 2.52 Sasktel, 2.24 Bell Aliant (DSL) 1.79 Rogers, 1.67.For a Netflix customer, connection speed would affect the quality of the image and audio being received, and whether the system frequently pauses

itself during playback to rebuffer. Broadly speaking, the higher the speed number, the better the picture and audio quality, and the less likely it is to pause.The rankings are based on more than a billion hours of streaming time every month by Netflix's 48 million customers worldwide. The company acknowledges that average speeds are quite often beaten by peak performances, but it says its numbers "are an indicator of the performance typically experienced across all users on an ISP network."Speed can be impacted by back-end factors on an ISP's infrastructure, but can also be temporarily slowed by factors such as what else the customer's local network is doing at any given time, and how many devices they have connected to the internet.It's been estimated that Netflix makes up almost a third of all data transferred over the internet at times, so the company's findings on connection speeds are illustrative.Across Canada as a whole, the average Netflix user saw download speeds of 2.52 Mbps last month."As a country, the average speed for Netflix in Canada beats that of the United States, but ranks below most European nations," Netflix said on its website.The average U.S. speed was 2.33 Mbps, while it was 3.49 Mbps in the Netherlands, 3.21 Mbps in Sweden and 3.167 Mbps in Denmark.The slowest country in Netflix's rankings was Costa Rica, with an average speed of 1.18 Mbps.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com 29Canada News

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Some Drivers Distracted By Making Out, Makeup: SurveyMost people report other drivers, won’t admit they do it themselves

Many of you appear to have a hard time fessing up to your bad driving habits.A Leger survey shows a majority of drivers report seeing distracted people behind the wheel, but very few admit they can also be guilty of it.Pauline Kemp with RSA Insurance says hair, makeup and even brushing teeth have been reported.She says you can’t leave out furry

friends. “Sixty-six per cent of Canadians have witnessed people driving with pets on their lap. Only four per cent admit to doing it.”“Twenty-four per cent of people say they have observed someone making out in the driver’s seat, but three per cent admit to it,” she adds.Kemp says 20 to 30 per cent of all collisions in Canada involve driver distractions.

Child’s Jaw Broken In What Grandmother Calls “Knockout Game”

12-year-old has been waiting since Saturday for surgery to correct his

jawGrande Prairie RCMP are investigating what they are calling a violent assault on a 12 year old boy over the weekend.The boy was playing with a friend at the Hillside school playground last Saturday when he was attacked.His jaw was broken in what his

grandmother called the “knockout game” – where children beat up unsuspecting victims and post the video online.“It sends chills up my spine – I cannot believe it,” said Cathy Rode, the boy’s grandmother. “People I've talked to are horrified that this is somehow part of our society.Police say the attack was random, but they’re not confirming it is the “knockout game.”To make matters worse, Rode says her grandson has been in pain for five days waiting for surgery to repair his jaw.Alberta Health Services said there was a delay in the boy's surgery because other emergency surgeries have taken priority.The boy was scheduled to finally get the needed surgery Wednesday – but his grandmother said the whole family has been feeling the impact of the past five days spent worrying.“Mad. Frustrated. Upset. I've been looking after the children. There's three younger brothers. They're afraid. It's impacted everyone and there's no end in sight.”

Funeral Licence On The Line After Drunk Drive With Ashes

A Winnipeg funeral director convicted of driving drunk at a funeral service two years ago is now facing the possibility of losing his licence.Aurele LeClaire, 51, of LeClaire Brothers Funeral Home, appeared last week before the Funeral Board of Manitoba and admitted to breaching its code of ethics and the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Act.The funeral board has 60 days to decide on a penalty, which can range from an apology to LeClaire losing his licence.The hearing was prompted by a complaint from a church minister who said LeClaire arrived drunk at a March 30, 2012 funeral service and drove drunk to the accompanying cemetery service.LeClaire was convicted after a provincial court trial last summer of one count of driving over .08. He was fined $2,500 and prohibited from driving for one year.Rev. Carol Janke, of the Messiah Lutheran Church, testified at trial LeClaire had a "strong smell of alcohol" and "seemed confused."

Janke said she asked LeClaire to move his car after he arrived at the church with the deceased's ashes and parked in a spot reserved for handicapped people."I thought his interaction with me was very inappropriate," Janke said. "He said he believed the ashes of the deceased were as important as any handicapped person."Janke said LeClaire could not walk straight and had difficulty performing simple tasks."The things I often take for granted from other funeral directors, he was unable to do," Janke said.When LeClaire offered her a ride to Chapel Lawn Cemetery, Janke, fearful for her safety, declined and arranged for family members to ride with her.After calling a friend for advice, Janke contacted RCMP who arrested LeClaire a short time later at the cemetery."It's not surprising Rev. Janke did not know what to do or who to call in the circumstances," Judge Rob Finlayson said. "One just does not expect a funeral director to show up in an intoxicated state for a funeral."LeClaire later provided a breath sample with a blood-alcohol reading of .22, nearly three times the legal limit for driving.LeClaire testified he was a friend of the deceased and had been grieving and drinking heavily for several nights leading up to the funeral. LeClaire admitted to being an alcoholic but said he thought he was sober when he went to the funeral."I do not accept ... that he did not believe he was impaired by alcohol," Finlayson said. "At the very least he was reckless as to whether he was still impaired or not."LeClaire told court he has been sober since August 2012.

Aurele LeClaire, 51, of LeClaire Brothers Funeral Home

GM Recalls 3 Million More Cars, 200,000 In Canada

Automaker is now recalling 11 million cars in North America for a variety of reasons

General Motors added a number of recalls to its growing list today, pushing its total mostly in North America to more than 11 million this year.The company said Thursday it is recalling nearly three million more cars and trucks to fix problems with brake lights, headlamps and power brakes.The bulk of the three million include the following model years, which are being recalled because the brake light wires can corrode, causing the lights to fail:2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu. 2004-2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx. 2005-2010 Pontiac G6. 2007-2010 Saturn Auras.A total of 2.4 million of those vehicles are being recalled worldwide, including 194,314 in Canada. The Detroit automaker said it knows of several hundred complaints, 13 crashes and two injuries caused by the problem.

There are also smaller recalls for the following vehicles:2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvettes. 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. 2014 GMC Sierra. 2014-2015 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs.When those figures are included, the total number of new recalled GM cars in Canada jumps to 201,683, and just under three million worldwide.Along with sizeable recalls from Toyota, Ford, Chrysler and others, GM's actions have the U.S. auto industry on pace to break the record of 30.8 million recalled vehicles set in 2004. GM also is close to breaking its own U.S. recall record of 11.8 million, also from 2004.The company expects to take a $200-million charge this quarter for the added recalls.


Financial Preparedness is Essential for Women

Among the 2,115 Canadians who participated in the 2011 Desjardins Financial Security Health Survey, 67 per cent said that an illness would make them financially vulnerable. Another 77 percent who live with children were afraid that they would use up their savings during recovery, leaving no money for their children’s education. The survey also pointed out that women fear the potentially devastating effects of cancer more than any other serious illness. "What's interesting is that women today are able to assert their independence by their lifestyle and career choices, but many still find financial planning to be very stressful," said Janey Leslie, a certified financial planner and regional sales consultant with Desjardins Financial Security. "Statistically, women live longer than men, they play a key role in family care-giving and decision-making, but they are often in a more vulnerable financial position. So, it's essential

that women become better prepared financially in case of an emergency, like a serious illness."Janey, what should women do to get started?One thing I have learned over the years, speaking to both advisors and clients, is the importance of putting a client's needs into a real-life context. This is especially true when working with female clients. Women need to be proactive and think about what they would need financially to protect their families should they ever become seriously ill. Being financially prepared will allow her to concentrate her energy on recovering and still maintain her place at the heart of the family.What should be incorporated into the financial plan? Every working mother with dependants should have a financial safety plan that includes three distinct layers:Disability insurance: It's a valuable, must-have protection that pays a regular benefit based on the person's monthly salary, which can be used to cover every-day financial commitments.

BY:Vicky V. Prasad

Extended medical insurance: Even with the protection of disability insurance, many women are not able to pay for all of the drugs and treatments associated with a serious illness. And it's important to point out that they also may not be covered by their provincial health care system. An extended medical insurance plan is an excellent protection against these high costs. Critical illness insurance: It's often the missing piece of the puzzle, but luckily it's a product that's growing in popularity. In fact, sales of critical illness insurance in Canada have doubled in the last ten years. It provides a substantial lump-sum payment tax-free, which can be used for anything. For example, even the minimum benefit of $25,000 would allow someone to make a year's worth of mortgage payments or travel outside the country to seek the best medical care available. Imagine what $100,000 or $250,000 would allow them to do?For more information about building a solid financial security plan or about health and life insurance speak to your financial services advisor.

Vicky V. PrasadLife and Health Insurance AdvisorDesjardins Financial Security Independent NetworkPh 604-306-6647.Email: [email protected]

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as insurance, investment or tax advice. The rates and information contained herein are based on sources and materials believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed. Please refer to the policy for more detailed information.

A Need For Indo-Fijians To Reconnect, Reclaim And Restore Their History14 May is a significant date for Indo-Fijian Diaspora. On this day in 1879 the first ship load of Girmitiyas- Fiji’s indentured labourers – arrived in Fiji at Levuka in the historic vessel, the Leonidas. I do not blame Indo Fijian for not knowing the history of their heritage, as our school history fails to recognise and acknowledge this fact, which appear to have been stolen from successive Indo Fijian generations. This article is intended to enlighten and awaken the silent pride of Indo-Fijian Diaspora, and urge them to observe FIJI GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY on 14 May of every year.Do you ever realise that we now have a distinct Indo-Fijian culture spread around the world? We are a group of Indian migrants, who not only retained their culture and traditions, but in fact strengthened them to the extent that wherever they are settled, they are a distinct breed of Indians, very different from the mainland Indians. We give credit for this preservation of Indianness to the foresight and vision of our Girmitiya forebears who gave priority to education. However, do Indo-Fijians have respect and pride in their heritage?On Thanksgiving Day, Americans think of and honour those who sacrificed for America in creating a new homeland. On ANZAC Day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps), respective nationals think of their soldiers who fought for their countries and gave their lives. On Waitangi Day, New Zealanders mark that as a nation-building day. Then why cannot we, Girmitiya descendant Indo-Fijians, set aside at least one day in a year to think

and honour those who sacrificed their life and gave us this better life than they ever dreamed of?It is time we inculcated pride of the new generation in their history. What I suggest is that we need to tell our children and grandchildren about the stories of Girmit so that they know where they have descended from and how full of suffering, sacrifices has been those Girmit journeys.To realise this dream, a group of Indo-Fijians in Auckland New Zealand, have taken steps to reconnect, reclaim and restore Indo-Fijian history. FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NEW ZEALAND has been formed, among other things, to regularly organize commemoration of Girmit in New Zealand every year, and also become an umbrella organisation representing all Girmitiya descendants.

The Foundation is headed by former Deputy General Manager of Fiji Broadcasting Commission, Pundit Devakar Prasad (Chairperson) and other members include Thakur Ranjit Singh, (Secretary), Krish Naidu (Treasurer), former parliamentarians Master Shiu Charan and Sardar Harnam Singh Golian, author of “Tears in Paradise” and former Ba Town Clerk, Rajendra Prasad, and Pundit Ram Kumar Sewak, among others.The Foundation is organising Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day on Sunday 18 May, 2014 at Auckland, New Zealand. This event is organized to provide opportunity to every Indo-Fijian family to resurrect the memories and pay our respects to our Girmitiya forebears for the sacrifices that they

made and the legacy that they left for successive generations. The day’s programme will remember sacrifices, progress and vision of our forbears through oratory, poems, music and tales of the past. This will be a journey through memory lane which will provide exposure to a history that has been stolen from us, and remains yet to be told. Fiji’s celebrated academic son and historian of Girmit history, Professor Brij Lal is the Chief Guest He is Professor of Pacific and Asian History in the College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University, Canberra. And hence he is a very fitting and appropriate Chief Guest.It is a fervent hope of the Foundation that such activities would assist in restoration of Indo-Fijian history; not only in New Zealand, but everywhere Indo-Fijians are settled. Hence, the theme for this year’s commemoration is:Reconnecting, reclaiming and restoring Indo-Fijian historyThe Foundation intends to strengthen

our unique Indo-Fijian culture, language, customs and traditions to ensure that our children remain connected to the jewels of their inheritance. It is hoped, in a small way, the initiative, foresight and vision of Aucklanders are going to inspire our Indo Fijian Diaspora in Canada (Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Toronto etc), USA (San Francisco, Sacramento, Modesto Hayward etc), Australia (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne etc) and even in Fiji to unite and get organised and tell our new generation the tales of Girmit that history has failed to acknowledge.[E-mail: [email protected]][Visit Fiji Girmit Foundation Facebook] [About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist, a blogger, a media commentator and former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post. He is the Secretary of Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand. He runs his blogsite: FIJI PUNDIT, available at www.fijipundit.blogspot.co.nz]


ColoringContinued From Last Week

The purpose of discipline

The whole reason most parents smack their kids is because they are trying to teach them that certain behaviour is not considered acceptable. While teaching good ways to act is the purpose of discipline, smacking is an ineffective tool for achieving this goal.Think about the best teachers you’ve had in your life. How did they effectively teach you? Chances are that it wasn’t through acts of aggression or through hurting you. Instead, I suspect that they did the following things:Stand on higher groundThe best way to teach someone is by example. We teach our kids to cook, set up an email account, tidy a room, or pump up a bicycle tire by passing on our knowledge and habits from a position of experience. Soft skills are taught through example: we teach gratitude by being grateful, compassion by being compassionate, and service by serving. In short, if we wish to teach our kids anything, our example is primary. Be an example of what you teach.There’s nothing more ironic than seeing a parent smacking a child for hitting, or screaming at a child to stop yelling and making so much noise. And you may have noticed that calm parents often have calm, quiet children … it’s not just temperament and heritability! The example that we set models appropriate behaviour for our children. When we are impatient, angry, critical, or disrespectful, our children watch and follow. And when we are kind, compassionate, helpful, and loving, our children learn as well.Deliver instructionsGreat parents make sure they set their children up to be successful by explaining what expectations are. They ensure that instructions are clear, relevant, and understood. When we teach our kids right ways to act, we should spend more time helping them recognize what they are best off doing, rather than emphasising what not to do.Invite discussionPerhaps one of the things you appreciated about the best teacher in your life was that we invited your input. When we teach our children good ways to act, we should look for opportunities to ask questions and invite discussion rather than lecturing.Our questions can encourage our children to think more deeply about what behaviour is appropriate. Rather than berating them for getting it wrong and demanding they do it this way, we can ask questions like, “What would be a better idea?”, “How could you

have said that more nicely?”, or “What might have been a way that you could do that and keep your sister happy at the same time?”.As we promote conversations with our children, they are more likely to come up with their own reasons and answers for ideal behaviour, and will internalize these ideas at a much deeper level.A quick point though: it is typically ineffective to try and have a conversation with kids when they are highly strung, emotional, being observed by others, or tired. It’s best to invite discussion when everyone is calm, and can talk about challenging experiences calmly.Give opportunities for practice and mistakesIn some circumstances it can be useful to help our children learn by giving them a chance to practice their ideas (or practice our instructions). If we are teaching them to share we can tell them it’s time to practice, put them in the room with their sibling, and get them to try it out – perhaps with our guidance (and remembering that if they’re upset it won’t work … must wait until all is calm). The gentle art of practice, combined with guidance from us, can help our kids get really good at behaving the way we are training them to behave.Show you carePerhaps the most profound reason that your favourite teacher had such an impact on you was because you felt unconditional support, love and encouragement from them. Great teachers are willing to spend time with us and listen to us. They understand our desires and our motivations. They listen. And they help us understand our shortcomings by patiently working with us on our problems, offering solutions, and guiding us towards ideal outcomes. If the task is too big they sit with us and gently remind us, direct us, and give us hints. They don’t get mad, and they don’t take over. Instead, they care, and they show it in everything they say and do.The truth about parenting is that most of us are muddling through. We’re doing the best we can – or at least we’re doing the best we know how to, based on the things our parents have taught us and the things we have read or observed. When it comes to discipline there really are dozens of ways that we can teach our kids – some more effective, and some less effective. While we emphasize working with our kids rather than doing to our kids, we’re likely to stay away from smacking, and move towards better solutions that build our children and create stronger connections.

The ugly truth about smacking our kids

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com32 Your Health

This information is provided for knowledge and educational purposes only. Individuals should visit their physicians for more information on their health.

Healthy Foods To Fight Blood Pressure

Here are a few items that you should stock up to reduce your blood pressure levels

Fighting blood pressure and sugar levels while craving for food might be a difficult job.Here a few food items that can help you lower your blood pressure levels and keep it at a normal level.Spinach -

Spinach is loaded with magnesium and also contains potassium which are key ingredients for lowering and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. So add more greens to your daily dish and enjoy a healthy life minus all the pressure.Dark chocolate -

Well, this certainly does not mean that you binge upon chocolate. But it is found that eating about 25-30 calories a day (flavanols are present in dark chocolates) can lower the blood pressure levels in your body.Skimmed milk -

It provides calcium, potassium and Vitamin D which together help in reducing blood pressure levels and keep your body healthy.Tomatoes -

Rich in antioxidants, tomatoes also help bring down your blood pressure levels.Soya beans -

These beans are full of potassium so they help fight rising pressure levels in your body.So load your plate with the above mentioned food, and remain hearty and healthy.

Stressful Marriage More Likely To Kill Men, Study Finds

An unhappy marriage can triple the chances of a man going to an early grave, a landmark study into the health hazards of unhappy private lives has found.Women reported much the same stresses from a demanding spouse but it was less likely to kill them.The Danish study tracked the work and health patterns of 10,000 men and women aged between 36 and 52 over 10 years.It found endless fighting with a spouse can in fact be the death of you, especially if you are out of work - and riskier still if you are a man.The study found 6 per cent of men and 4 per cent of women went to an early grave. The main cause of death was cancer, followed by heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and suicide. But the researchers say at least half of the deaths could have been prevented if the person had not also been suffering from the added burden of a hostile marriage, a difficult relationship with their children, and often no way to escape them after a job loss."Of course not all arguments will end up having this deadly end, but in general if

you have these stressful relations, very frequently that will lead to an increased risk of death," study author Professor Rikke Lund said.The research contradicts other studies that find married men fare better, live longer and are healthier.Professor Lund says that may be true generally, but it depends on the relationship.Unemployment was also found to be a factor."What we were able to identify were that people outside the labour force seem to be more vulnerable to these kind of stressful relations, as were men who had these worries and demands from their partners," Professor Lund said."So we sort of identified some especially vulnerable groups among the unemployed and some men."

Why Multiple Sclerosis Is More

Common In WomenA new study has found why so many more women than men get multiple sclerosis (MS).According to the study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, females susceptible to MS produce higher levels of a blood vessel receptor protein, S1PR2, than males and that the protein is present at even higher levels in the brain areas that MS typically damages.The researchers said that when they looked at the protein's function in mice, they found that it can determine whether immune cells cross blood vessels into the brain, which cause the inflammation that leads to MS.The study also identified 20 genes that were active at different levels in vulnerable female brain regions, but the researchers don't know what 16 of these genes do.

Who Should Or Shouldn't Take Aspirin To Prevent Heart Attacks

RevealedDespite aspirin being known to prevent heart attacks and strokes for over 30 years, a new study suggests that it is still unclear as to who exactly should take it daily.The research shows that your coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, a measurement of plaque in the arteries that feed the heart, may help determine whether or not you are a good candidate for aspirin."Many heart attacks and strokes occur in individuals who do not appear to be at high risk," lead author, Michael D Miedema, MD, MPH said. "Individuals with known CVD [cardiovascular disease] should take a daily aspirin, but the best approach for individuals without known CVD is unclear. If we only treat high-risk individuals with aspirin, we are going to miss a substantial portion of patients who eventually suffer heart attacks. "However, liberally prescribing aspirin increases the bleeding risk for a

significant number of people who were never going to have a heart attack in the first place. With this study, we wanted to see if there is potentially a better way to determine who to treat with aspirin beyond simply using traditional risk factors," he added.Aspirin helps prevent heart attacks and strokes by preventing blood clots from forming in arteries lined with unhealthy plaque buildup. However, this same benefit puts patients taking aspirin at risk for dangerous bleeding, when blood clots don't form where they should. For that reason, the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines currently recommend aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people who have known CVD or who are considered to be at high risk for a CVD event. Aspirin is generally not recommended for people who are considered to be at low or intermediate risk.


This information is provided for knowledge and educational purposes only. Individuals should visit their physicians for more information on their health.

Your Health

Eating Grapes Reduces Knee PainSuffering from knee pain? Adding grapes to your diet can help you lessen that excruciating knee pain.Daily grape consumption may help alleviate pain associated with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and improve joint flexibility and overall mobility, a research said.This is possible because of polyphenols (antioxidants) found in grapes."Our findings provide promising data that links grape consumption to two very important outcomes for those living with knee osteoarthritis: reduced pain and improvements in joint flexibility," said Shanil Juma from Texas Woman's University, US.During the study, researchers assigned 72 men and women with knee

osteoarthritis (OA) to either consume grapes in the form of a whole grape freeze-dried powder or a placebo powder.The results showed that both men and women consuming a grape-enriched diet had a significant decrease in self-reported pain related to activity and an overall decrease in total knee symptoms.This beneficial effect was more pronounced in females.Evidence of increased cartilage metabolism was observed in men consuming the grape-enriched diet, the study noted.Osteoarthritis is more likely to occur in people over 45 years of age, and women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.

Negative Emotions May Increase Heart Attack Risk

Stop worrying too much for an unfinished task as anger, anxiety, and depression not only affect the functioning of the heart but also increase the risk for heart disease.According to research, persisting stress increases the risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by evoking negative emotions that, in turn, raise the levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body."We hypothesised that brain activity linked to negative emotions - specifically efforts to regulate negative emotions - would relate to physical signs of risk for heart disease," explained Peter Gianaros, an associate professor at University of Pittsburgh.Stroke and heart attacks are the end products of progressive damage to

blood vessels supplying the heart and brain, a process called atherosclerosis.Atherosclerosis progresses when there are high levels of chemicals in the body called pro-inflammatory cytokines.To conduct the study, researchers recruited 157 healthy adult volunteers who were asked to regulate their emotional reactions to unpleasant pictures.They found that individuals who show greater brain activation when regulating their negative emotions also exhibit elevated blood levels of interleukin-6, one of the body's pro-inflammatory cytokines.These new findings agree with the popular belief that emotions are connected to heart health which may lead to protect against heart disease.

40 Is Not Too Late To Hit The Gym

Even if you are above 40, it is not too late to hit the gym as researchers have found that "relatively intense" endurance exercises confer benefits on the heart irrespective of the age at which a person begins fitness training."Despite biological changes with age, the heart still seems - even at the age of 40 - amenable to modification by endurance training," said David Matelot from the "Inserm 1099" research unit at the University of Rennes in France."Starting at age 40 does not seem to impair the cardiac benefits," he added.The study was performed with 40 healthy men (without cardiovascular risk factors) aged between 55-70 years who were divided for assessment according to the level of exercise they took and the ages at which they began.

Ten people had never exercised for more than two hours a week throughout their lives, and 30 had exercised for at least seven hours a week for over five years - either beginning their programmes before age 30 or after age 40.When the researchers tested the men on fitness measures like heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake, both groups of men who trained regularly fared about equally, and significantly better than their peers who had never trained."It is never too late to change your way of life and get more physically active," Matelot said."Using the stairs rather than the elevator, or gardening regularly, can also be beneficial," said the findings recently presented at the "EuroPRevent Congress" in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Red Wine Health Benefits 'Overhyped'

Red wine may not be as good for you as hoped, say scientists who have studied the drink's ingredient that is purported to confer good health. The team tracked the health of nearly 800 villagers from the Chianti region of Italy to see if their local tipple had any discernable impact.They found no proof that the wine ingredient resveratrol stops heart disease or prolongs life. Experts say more research is needed to get a definitive answer. The British Heart Foundation is carrying out its own resveratrol study.French Paradox Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of heart disease in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet. Some put it down to moderate drinking of red wine.Studies have shown that consumption of red wine, dark chocolate and berries reduces inflammation, leading researchers to speculate that their common ingredient, resveratrol, explains why. But Prof Richard Semba, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues found no evidence for this.They chose two small towns in Tuscany as their test ground, and 783 elderly people who were living there agreed to take part in their investigation. The volunteers gave details about their daily diets as well as urine samples for measurement of their resveratrol intake.During the nine years of the study, 268 of the men and women died, 174

developed heart disease and 34 got cancer. But urinary resveratrol was not linked with death risk, heart disease risk or cancer risk. Nor was it associated with any markers of inflammation in the blood, the researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine. Prof Semba said: "The thinking was that certain foods are good for you because they contain resveratrol. We didn't find that at all."The story of resveratrol turns out to be another case where you get a lot of hype about health benefits that doesn't stand the test of time."He says any benefits of drinking wine or eating dark chocolate or berries, if they are there, must come from other shared ingredients. And it's not clear how much you might need to eat or drink."These are complex foods, and all we really know from our study is that the benefits are probably not due to resveratrol."Maureen Talbot, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "The results of this study, while interesting, will not change the dietary advice we provide. People should continue to eat plenty of fruit, veg and wholegrains. "We recognise the need to learn more about the action of resveratrol though, so are funding research into its reported disease-combating properties and how it affects the heart and circulatory system."This research is vital as it could form the basis of future medicines."

Why You Should Drink Red WineRed wine and health is an issue of considerable discussion and research. Red wine has been recommended for various heath related problems - as a digestive aid, as a cure for a wide range of ailments, including lethargy,

diarrhea among other things.

Many studies suggest that the French are healthy due to the presence of red wine in their diet. Here are some of the health benefits of enjoying an occasional glass of red wine.Protects heart: Wine contains one of the most powerful antioxidant compounds which can help reduce the saturated fat deposits in the arteries. Red wine also contains compounds that protects you against cardiovascular diseases. But it should be taken in moderation. Red wine, when drunk in moderation, raises your HDL cholesterol, which is the good cholesterol.Prevents tooth decay: Wine hardens your enamel which in turn prevents tooth decay and the growth of bacteria.

Wine also reduces gum inflammation and prevents gum diseases.For sound sleep: Red wine contains melatonin which can help you sleep peacefully. But wine for good sleep is recommended once in a while, not frequently. If the sleep problem persists, consult a doctor.For a long life: Scientists believe that red wine can elongate your life span to a certain extent. It also protects you from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.Boosts performance during workout: Researchers found that high doses of resveratrol, a bio compound found in red wine, improved physical performance, heart function and muscle strength.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com34 Astrology

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AriesThe next couple of days will see you in a more relaxed state of mind. You will get some good news pertaining to your job, career or travel that you will make the coming celebrations even more eventful. Your personal life will be full of excitement and you will find every opportunity to show your appreciation and sense of gratification to your mate or beloved. Some of you will take a brief vacation out of town in the company of your family and friends. Students will be happy to receive the news of their selection to important institutions. Taurus You will get into the mood to start your new job or venture that you may have committed yourself to earlier. This new assignment could well be the turning point in your life. Those of you in the age group of 26 - 36, will receive a major promotion or financial boost during the next few days. Matters at home are very comfortable especially after the loved ones having patched up their differences. The married can look forward to joyful moments in each other's company.Gemini You will get completely immersed in your job or business that is poised to take you closer to your chosen goal. Success in your venture is assured but only after you have put in all your efforts and energy to conclude your current task on schedule. Your commitment to your career seems to keep you away from leisurely pastime though this doesn't seem to bother you much. However, in a

few days' time you may feel the need for a romantic association that will appear elusive for a while.Cancer You will feel quite satisfied with the rate of progress in your career and business. There will be fresh opportunities coming along that will enable you to increase manifold your income or business profit. The married or those in love will find their beloved complaining of neglect that may not be altogether wrong. You will have to find time for your family and loved ones who miss you particularly during the ensuing holidays. The few moments that you will manage to be together with your beloved will be immensely enjoyable and memorable. Leo A sudden development around you will bring in fresh opportunities to increase your income and profit. You will have to take some quick decisions and act wisely in choosing your associates in handling new projects. This is particularly because it could be a one-time opportunity and someone may try to take away this deal from under your nose. If need be, take advice of an elder in the family or your senior who may not have any personal interest in this particular project. Your love life keeps you in high spirits and full of enthusiasm that may be essential at this juncture for you to function better in your career. VirgoA certain project that may have been

abandoned or given up as a lost opportunity gets revived and you will need to consider it afresh. Even though you will take up this assignment half-heartedly you will find it a treasure of great opportunity for making long-term financial gains. This particular deal will have the potential to change your life completely for the better. There are also some fresh developments that are likely to happen on your personal front. A new association with a person of these opposite sex will see you rediscover the joys of romance and amour. Libra After having attained job security and sufficient savings you will now have a strong urge to indulge yourself in your favourite hobbies and pas time. You may decide to spend time in the exclusive company of your mate or beloved at a quiet retreat of your choice. This brief holiday will give you an opportunity to reset your long-term goals that you wish to have for your family and yourself. You will feel rather relaxed and energetic after your vacation and will begin work with renewed enthusiasm. Scorpio You have a busy schedule ahead even though you have attended to routine matters. There will be fresh work offers that you may find difficult to refuse for these have the potential of establishing you securely in your profession. Though you may have plans for vacations but may find it difficult to get away from your work. However, you need not worry for you will manage a brief outing in the company of your family or beloved that will give you hope for taking a longer vacation after you complete your current projects. Sagittarius There are changes foreseen in your current associations. If employed a change of job is likely, and those working in joint ventures or partnership, may now decide to go independent. Whatever the new developments that is in the stars assures long-term benefits for you in your career. You should not resist these changes even though

you may initially feel rather insecure. Home and family life will be a source of strength and encouragement. The married or those in love can look forward to great times in the company of their beloved. CapricornYou will require spending some more time at work in order to conclude certain important tasks. This may require you to change your plans that you may have made with your family. However, others at home will understand your compulsions and will co-operate. It is necessary that you devote time to your career or business that may have given you some anxious moments of late. There is lot of competition in the market and you have to remain alert most times in order to safeguard your interests. You will manage to spend some intimate moments in the company of your mate or beloved that will keep you going in your career. AquariusThere is lot to be satisfied and thankful for in your career and financial aspect. Even your personal life is happy and congenial. However, the planets seem to create some mischief in your love life and could bring in a new romance. You will feel a strong urge for a secret liaison. You need to be highly discreet in such matters that offer attraction of physical kind. The married or those already committed in love could create serious problems for themselves. Amorous sport has its own perils. Pisces There will be series of good news that greet you this week. You will have ample reasons to indulge yourself and enjoy the success achieved in your career and profession, and the adoration that you get socially. Romance and love seem to be part of your life more so when members of the opposite sex find you irresistible. You are not going to let go any opportunity that you get for having brief stints or amorous kind. But remember to be discreet for you could end up hurting someone who may have sacrificed a lot in making your life happy and comfortable.

Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 5:00 pm

2 0 1 4 YO U T H TALENT SHOW

Chairman ~ ASH DUTTA: 604.777.9697Vice Chair (Social & Fundraising) ~ WASU NAIDU: 604.777.9070

Secretary ~ REENA SINGH: 604.817.9040Youth Co-ordinator ~ AARTHI NAIDU: [email protected]

2014 YTS Chair & Assistant Secretary ~ ASHRAF KHAN: 778.688.3821

Youth Ages 25 and under are invited to perform

Bonsor Banquet Hall6550 Bonsor Avenue, Burnaby,

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Tickets: $15 for Adults $5 for youth 12 and under (Veg. & Non-Veg. Dinner Included)

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Poonam Dhillon Terribly Falls On The RampPoonam Dhillon had experienced oops moment when she tumbles on the ramp and fall down after her saree stuck to her shoes. She was walking the ramp for designer Vikram Phadnis. Poonam did not turn back after the embarrassing moment instead she got up, gain confidence again took the ramp on fire with confident without any trace of awkwardness. Poonam confidently made an entry with red shining saree but after a minute her saree got stuck and she fell down flat on her face. The onlookers present on the show said that her saree got stuck under high heels and she lost her balance. Poonam Dhillon fell flat in the ramp in the attendance of guests, media and celebrities. But she got up, managed herself and waved to the guests and media and gave a sweet smile. Currently, the veteran actress is playing a perfect saas in Sony entertainment popular soap, ‘Ek Nayee

Pehchaan’. The charity fashion show saw personalities from both film and television industries including Ranbir Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Sakshi Tanwar, Rashmi Desai and Vidya Malvade, Aditi Rao Hyadri, Gauhar Khan and many more.The main attraction of Fevicol presents Caring with Style fashion was veteran actress Sadhana. Sadhana was accompanied by heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor. The ‘Love In Shimla’ actress who confined herself to the four walls of the house made her presence felt on the show. Apart from Sadhana, many celebrities walked the ramp for the noble cause organized by Saina N.C and Vikram Phadnis. The evening was filled up by the funny one-liner by host and actor Manish Paul and a scintillating performance by popular Bollywood noted choreographer, Terence Lewis.


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Bollywood Popular Villain Sudhir Passes Away

Bollywood’s popular villain Sudhir whose real name was Bhagwandas Mulchand Luthria breathed his last after battling from lung ailment for several years. He was fondly called ‘Bhagu’ by his friends. He was seen in super-hit movies like ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’, ‘Deewaar’ and many more. He also played one among seven brothers in Amitabh Bachchan starrer ‘Satte Pe Satta’ as well as Shahrukh Khan’s detective flick ‘Baadshah’.

He was mostly seen playing antagonist in the films of 70s and 80s. Sudhir remained unmarried throughout his life and left behind a bungalow in Andheri. The news of his death was not passed to many as the veteran actor was a private person and wanted to keep everything to himself. It is said that Sudhir was the younger brother of filmmaker Milan Luthria’s father. May his soul rest in peace!

Suniel To File Defamation Case Against Producer

Suniel Shetty will be filing a defamation suit against Hemendra Singh Solanki, one of the producers of the film, 'Mumbai Kiski'. Two producers had signed the actor for the film and later, each demanded that he return the signing amount. As reported 'Caught in the crossfire' (hitlist, April 5), the actor was caught between the two producers. Following this, Solanki registered an FIR in Udaipur against Shetty alleging that he had cheated him and had made derogatory statements against him in the media. The actor will now fight these allegations by taking legal action against the producer.Hitesh Jain, Shetty's lawyer, says, `We will take legal action against the producer and get the criminal proceedings started soon. Celebrities are taken advantage of as they are

considered to be soft targets.`Jain points out that Shetty had approached the Cine & TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) to sort out the issue. `We would have followed the association's verdict, but producer Hemendra Singh Solanki decided to go ahead and register an FIR. Now we will counter the same with a defamation suit,` he says.A deal gone badProducers Anita Vimal and Hemendra Singh Solanki had approached Suniel Shetty to be a part of their project. But a week before the shoot, there was a fall out between the two partners, and Solanki sold the project to another production house. Later, both producers started harassing Shetty demanding that he return the signing amount to each of them.

Parineeti Chopra a part of Akshay Kumar’s Fugly

Was the Hasee Toh Phasee babe’s presence in the film a surprise element?

The makers of Fugly have come up with an interactive trailer app for the film and they are promoting it with full gusto. The lead actors of the film, Vijender Singh, Mohit Marwah, Kiara Advani and Arfi Lamba, recently came together and shot for a video, where they described their first instance of watching their own film. While Mohit describes the preparation before the film, Kiara describes the setting inside the hall followed by the star cast. Now that’s when she gives us a catch. She says the film starts rolling with ‘Akshay Kumar presents Fugly starring Salman Khan, Parineeti Chopra, Jimmy

Shergill and other.’The main intention of the video, however, was to tell people that they were considered as others, and anyone from the audience can get their name added up in the star cast, just by checking out the official page of the film. But, what we were more intrigued about was the fact that Kiara, maybe unknowingly, revealing a secret element in the film – Parineeti Chopra. Maybe Akshay Kumar and co-producer Ashvini Yardi, kept it as a secret, which would have been revealed once the movie released, but we think now the balloon of surprise has been popped.


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GOOD NEWS ASSEMBLY FOR JESUS

James Kumar 604-581-3191 (res) 604-599-9518 (work) cecil Labon 604-572-4854

SRI VENKATESHWARA MAHA VISHNU TEMPLETemple hoursMonday to Sunday Morning 8:00am–10:00am Evening 6:00pm–8:00pmDaily Aarthi 7:00pmRamayan Katha Friday 6:00pm–10:00pm

pooja/special prayer sessions/Temple/hallPT. Shiu Madri 604.582.4899PUJARI Soma Sundaran 604.363.7180

president: H.C. Gopal 604.290.1114

Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam Educational and Cultural Society, BC, Canada (EST. 1982 – Incorporated S176969)

secretary: Ganesh Murti 604.315.3166 Treasurer: Muniappa Naidu 604.576.4529

maathar sangam Activities & VolunteersShakuntala Naidu 604.576.4529

9326 - 116th Street, Delta, BC

ASIAN cHRIST cHURcH OF cANADA

We pray for sickness, demon possessed & family problems.We have testimonies, come and see God’s great work.

Rev. Emmanuel Cheema 778-241-9066 [email protected] 88th Ave. Surrey, B.C. V4N IH5

You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5: 11)

Sunday Service @ 5.30 p.m. (Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi & English)

FIJIAN METHODIST UNITED CHURCH 12371 96 Avenue Surrey BCSunday Service @ 6:00PM

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Service Sundays 2:00pm Bible Study (Hindi & English) Wednesdays 7:30pm

Prayer, counselling & visitations Available

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Sunday Service @ 2:00PMUplifting Worship | Prayer for healing | music (cD) Available

Shailendra (Shal) Singh604-596-7353 or 604-323-6506 | [email protected]

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service in Hindustani & Punjabi • sunday school for Children

Pastor Santosh Raj 604-582-2650 [email protected]

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come to our services or contact us. Allow us to introduce you to Jesus Christ and help you come into a full relationship with him.

Sunday School/Worship Service: 1pm11601-82nd Ave, Delta BC (604) 590-8836

[email protected] www.abhiskhekassembly.comServices are in Hindi and English Senior Pastor Rev. Samuel Krishna

GLOBAL FIJIAN ASSEMBLIESPastor Isimeli Lesi Korobasaga

Affiliated with Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada

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Bhan Mati Raj 604.581.9859 James Kumar 604.599.9518Chand Lakhan 604.599.0361 Satya Nand 604.590.5303Bhan Pratap 604.839.5106 Thakur K.Singh 604.587.5439 Bindi Lal 778.707.1015

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Neighbors (PG)Rivals!

By Robert WaldmanYes, it is funny. Taken loosely from a 1980s inspired flick Universal pictures hits the Bulls-eye with Neighbors. Comic hell is on tap with this wild and dare I say somewhat raucous farce now lighting folks up at Cineplex Odeon arenas around B.C.Played completely for laughs our story revolves around the sorry plight of a young married couple with a cute as punch baby girl. Mac and Kelly Radner just want to live a quiet, normal life. Vancouver's Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) and Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids) are in the groove and perfectly cast as normal parents whose lives change rather significantly when they have new folks move in next door.Peace and stability go out the window when much to the Radner's surprise a fraternity are their new neighbours. Led by handsome President Teddy Sanders and a cast of equally insane misfits this frat house creates havoc for the innocent family next door.

Handsome boy toy hunk Zac Efron (Hairspray) is at his comic best as the delusional leader of this pack of wild young men whose nice pecs can't mask a deep desire to win and become king of the hood.It's a fight to the finish as a series of confrontations emerge between the old folks and the new kids on the block as noise becomes the dividing line that threatens to destroy the neighbourhood during this 90 minute hilarious assault on the funny bone. Tons of hip jokes come swarming at you in all directions In this gag a minute assault on the funny senses.Out of the limelight but an integral part to Rogen's unyielding success as a likeable star is fellow Vancouverite Evan Goldberg whose top writing and producing skills shine bright here. Together these Point Grey alumni have graduated to the comedy hall of fame.Smart, sharp and impeccably cast by

insightful director Nick Soller ( Get Him to the Geek) this comic blast is 98 minutes of fresh fun. Plus you won't

get enough of that playful toddler. And there's even a touch of thoughtful parenting tossed in for good measure.

Jennifer Aniston Splashes $60K For Huge 24X36ft Walk-In-

Luxury ClosetJennifer Aniston has reportedly spent 60,000 dollars on a new 24 x 36 foot on a new luxury closet.The 45-year-old actress and fiancé Justin Theroux are currently renovating their 8,500 square foot Bel Air mansion, and amongst the changes that they have made is converting their garage into a huge walk in closet.The other changes that the duo have

made to their home, includes extension of bedroom space, and installing a 6 by 20 foot balcony, modification of their kitchen and pool house.And as per the documents that were filed with the Los Angeles Building and Safety Department, the couple will soon also have a skylight installed in their car park, as well as a powder room in the outbuilding.

Angelina Jolie Pregnant Again Through IVF

This is such exciting news!Angelina is reportedly expecting again thanks to a successful IVF treatment.Before the mother of six underwent preventive surgery in 2013, she allegedly had her eggs frozen so that she and her future husband, Brad, could

welcome another biological child at a later time.Now, the May 26 issue of Star magazine reports that Angelina went through an IVF treatment earlier this year, and is finally pregnant with her and Brad’s seventh child!


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Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com42 For Women/ Relationship

Relationships

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Ways To Be A Super Daughter-In-Law

Here are a few tips to improve your relationship with your mom-in-law One of the biggest challenges of married life is to get along well with your in laws. Though this goes for both partners in a marriage, it is the woman who is affected the most. According to research around 60 per cent of all marriages suffer from tension with mothers-in-law that is normally between the woman and her husband's mother. The nagging, meddling mother-in-law is often the cause of worry and the central idea that can help better the situation is to have a positive attitude and to show respect to the older woman. Positive attitude Just like being a daughter-in-law is new to you taking up the role of a mother-in-law is new to her too. Always try and convey a positive attitude towards her. The older woman is probably just trying her best to fit into her role as a mom-in-law. Equality Try to treat your mother-in-law and your mother equally. For example if you give your mother a birthday gift, then give your mother-in-law a gift for her birthday too. If you have children, then visit your mother and your mother-in-law with similar frequency. Sensitivity The fact that the lady has spent a significant part of her life raising her son may make her a little sensitive when another person becomes the centre of attraction of her son's life.Though most mothers do not consider her daughter-in-law competition, there are some mothers who do. The ones whose life revolved around their child for a long time because they are a single parent or had only one child are the ones who are most likely to behave in this way. If, for example, your mother-in-law mentions how much her son always liked her home cooking, do not try to compete by asserting how much he likes your cooking now. This would invariably hurt her. Respect Treat your mother-in-law with respect. Consider her older and wiser. She may have been through a lot of hardships

in her life. In fact, talk to her and ask her about her childhood, growing up, raising kids, and life experiences. When she shares her life with you she will develop a liking for you and that can lead to a strong bond between the two of you. Expectations Getting to know the family you have married into may take time. Though most daughters-in-law are welcomed into the family with open arms, do not get disheartened if it does not happen. Give them time to know you better. Be attentive When your mother-in-law is at home be attentive towards her. Sit and chat, show her around town, and if she wants to help you prepare meals, then let her. You two can get to know each other better and bond. If she prefers to sit around being waited on hand and foot, then enlist your husband to help prepare meals and clean up. Information Try to keep mother-in-law informed; call and let her know about important events. Keep her in the loop. If you have children, send pictures to your mother-in-law. Grandmothers love getting pictures of their grandchildren. Advice Your mother-in-law has years of experience. Don't hesitate to take her advice. You may disagree with her and decide to not follow any of her suggestions, but be open to different ideas, at least listen, show respect, and do not take any advice as a personal attack. She is only trying to be helpful. Children Allow your mother-in-law to take care of your children. For them their grandchildren are more important than their own kids sometimes. If she wants to, let her spoil them a little, i.e. she lets them stay slightly past their bedtime or gives them some more chocolate than you would want to. Communication Try and talk out things with the family. If something that someone said hurt you, do not keep it bottled up inside you. Discuss with your husband and your mother-in-law any slights or snubs and how it makes you feel.

What Not To Do When Trying To Impress Her

Here are a few things you should steer clear of when you are struggling to impress your girl

Worried you will end up offending her with your histrionics on your first date? Well, one of the easiest way to have a successful date is to remember to be yourself.She is probably just as nervous as you are and this knowledge will take you a long way. Be your chivalrous best and keep in mind that a little flattery can't hurt. But always be sincere with your compliments because mindless, meaning less flattery can work against you. Gift her flowers — yes we know its ancient — but it usually works. Here are a few things you should steer clear of when you are struggling to impress your girl.Do not talk about your exGirls do not like it if you start bashing your ex on the first date. It is a complete turn off to listen to a man talk about his other women in his life in a derogatory manner. She doesn't want to hear about it despite what you think. Don't let her wonder — is that how he will talk about me to other women?Do not boast about how many women you have datedThis definitely is the number one turn

off. No woman would like to hear her date bragging about how many women he has had sex with. She does not need to hear how good you are in bed. If she is sexually interested in you (never on your first date that's for sure) trust us, she will let you know. She would not like it if you gave the impression that you sleep with every single woman you lay your eyes on.Do not order food for herIt is safe to ask her what she would like to have instead of ordering for her. Avoid forcing her to taste a particular dish you assume she will like.Do not wear sloppy clothesDon't go on your date wearing your old pair of tack pants and vest. Wearing good clothes is important. Put on some good smelling stuff. Make sure to brush your teeth and do your hair. Put on some nice shoes. Dress to impress.Do not complain about the food price in the menuIt looks very cheap when you discuss or complain about the food prices in the menu. If you cannot afford it is wiser not to invite your date to an expensive eatery. Go to your local cafe instead.

How To Know If You Are Madly In Love

There are obvious signs that can tell you how deeply in love you are.

Feeling the blues, always?Well, yes this could be the first sign to tell you when you are feeling the blues all the while and have goose bumps and butterflies in your stomach for no reason at all or for silly reasons.You keep blushing all the timeThis again is a sign that tells you 'you are smitten for the first time' when you see yourself in a very good mood and your friends always spot you daydreaming and blushing and getting lost in your thoughts. That's definitely mush and that's definitely the crush you need to explore.Your heart longs for that personYour eyes go around hunting for just a glance and you will be satisfied even if you could see the person for

even a second and that gives you maximum satisfaction. This does not end here as the more you get to see the person, the more the heart longs for the person. This is surely first love.You experience things for the first timeIf you feel the excitement is new, the feelings in your heart are the ones you have never experienced before and there are hundreds of emotions running hither and thither inside. You're feeling ecstatic at the same time there is anxiety brewing inside your heart that makes you feel your heart beat like never before - dhub, dhub, dhub, and more dhub dhub.Buddy, you have been smitten. Go and get yourself a love doctor.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com 43Lifestyle

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Foods To Eat Every Day For A Longer, Healthier Life It may seem like dietary boredom to eat certain foods every day, but luckily we live in the land of plenty and there are a number of variations for each of the foods below, all of which are so nutritionally dense they are worth eating on a daily basis. Plus, they will fit into your diet even if you're a vegetarian or a vegetarian. Raw Nuts

The laundry list of reason to eat raw nuts (roasting nuts damages some of their healthy oils) is ever-growing and while almonds get the most attention, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews, macadamias — basically all raw nuts that aren't salted, honey-roasted or candied — offer benefits ranging from weight management and glycemic control to better heart health and lower cholesterol. Berries

Antioxidants are critical for helping our bodies fight the damage of illness-causing free radicals and berries are loaded with a number of powerful antioxidants, including anthocyanins, quercetin and vitamin C (kale and spinach are the only vegetables with antioxidant levels as high as berries). They're also high in water and fiber, so they're great for weight loss as they make you feel fuller, faster. Almond MilkSoy and dairy milk are very controversial, so instead opt for almond milk. Not only is it low in calories (only 30 per serving; about 1/4 of regular soy or 2% milk), but since

it's made from almonds, it also has most of the nutrients that you'd find in the nuts like vitamin E, magnesium, monounsaturated fats, manganese, calcium, copper and riboflavin. It's also low in fat, heart-healthy, great for your skin (thanks to the vitamin E) and because of its low glycemic index, the body will use the carbs as energy so the sugars aren’t stored as fat.

Dark Leafy Greens

Kale, Swiss chard, spinach, broccoli…the options are endless. These leafy vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals to help protect against heart disease, diabetes, cancer and a host of other ailments. Matcha Tea

We've all heard about the benefits of green tea and matcha is a specific type that's especially potent in its ability to help fight off a slew of ailments. It's steamed, stemmed and de-vined before being stone-ground into a very fine powder, which then gets whisked with hot water (just below boiling) in a W-shape until there is a little bit of

foam. Because you are ingesting the ground leaves, the health benefits far and away exceed brewed teas. Cinnamon

A versatile spice, it can help lower blood sugar levels and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, and many studies have shown that it helps curb appetite. For a look at other spices to add to your diet, Sprouts

Wheatgrass, alfalfa, sunflower, pumpkin, green leaf, lentil…sprouts come in such a wide range that they're incredibly versatile. Hardier ones like mung or lentil can easily be heated, making them a great addition to soups or stews, while the more delicate ones like alfalfa are great for salads and sandwiches. No matter which you opt for, they're all packed with vitamins A, B, C and E, calcium, iron and magnesium. Plus, sprouting at home is a pretty easy process.

Flaxseed

Once a niche food item, flaxseed is now found in countless forms, from oil to crackers. What makes it such a great dietary addition is that it's packed with heart-healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans (a chemical compound with potent antioxidant powder — flaxseed contains 75 to 800 times more lignans than other plant foods) and fiber. Water

Turns out that drinking eight glasses of water a day is a myth — the number you need depends on a number of physical and dietary factors — but within reason, drinking more than the recommended amount isn't a bad thing. Water is critical to stay healthy as well as energized and drinking it before meals helps you eat less, since thirst is often mistaken for hunger. It's also good for your skin and boosts your metabolism.

Junk Food Makes People LazyA new research reveals that junk food, which lacks nutrition, can actually make one lazy.According to the study, the energy-draining effects of junk food can persist even when someone is switched to a healthy eating plan.The study, conducted on two groups of female rats, found that those who ate junk food, high in sugar and low in nutrients, gained more weight than the other group who stuck to a diet of unprocessed foods like corn and fish,

reports femalefirst.co.uk.What's more the group eating junk food also suffered from fatigue and became more sedentary and less motivated.Researchers from the University of Los Angeles found that at the end of the six month trial they switched the rats back to a nutritious diet for nine days but it didn't seem to affect their weight gain or laziness levels.The result suggests that fat diets that last a week or two are going to have no real health benefit.

Friday May 16, 2014www.fijitimescanada.com44 Automotive

Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 5:00 pm

2 0 1 4 YO U T H TALENT SHOW

Chairman ~ ASH DUTTA: 604.777.9697Vice Chair (Social & Fundraising) ~ WASU NAIDU: 604.777.9070

Secretary ~ REENA SINGH: 604.817.9040Youth Co-ordinator ~ AARTHI NAIDU: [email protected]

2014 YTS Chair & Assistant Secretary ~ ASHRAF KHAN: 778.688.3821

Youth Ages 25 and under are invited to perform

Bonsor Banquet Hall6550 Bonsor Avenue, Burnaby,

BC

www.cfofo.org [email protected]

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Tickets: $15 for Adults $5 for youth 12 and under (Veg. & Non-Veg. Dinner Included)

Artist, Scholarship, and Volunteer Award Applications are now open on our website!

CANADIAN FEDERATION OF FIJI ORGANIZATIONS

2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Identical twins can be hard to tell apart, but it gets easier when they’re wearing name tags. Maybe that’s why GM attaches big Chevrolet and GMC badges on its pickup-truck twins, the Silverado and the Sierra. The Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra aren’t quite identical, but engines, transmissions, chassis, and most of the sheetmetal are shared. What’s obviously different is the front-end styling. The Sierra replaces the Silverado’s stacked headlights with simpler, classier-looking small projector-beam units that are accented with LEDs on the top-dog SLT trim level. The grille, the front bumpers, the fenders, and the aluminum hood are unique to the Sierra. Black plastic trim around the fender wells and a chrome accent along the base of the side windows are more Sierra tells. Aside from the GMC badging, the interior décor of the Sierra is, again, nearly identical to that of the bow-tie truck. Aluminum trim on all versions of the Sierra replaces what’s silver-colored in the Silverado, and wood accents are peppered throughout the top-spec SLT interiors. Direct-Injected V-8 With those few differences, it’s not surprising that the Sierra acts just like the Silverado. The 355-hp, 5.3-liter V-8 broadcasts the same mellow V-8

soundtrack here as it does in the Chevy. Even without provoking the throttle, the 383 lb-ft of torque give an apology-worthy shove. We recently tested a Silverado LTZ crew cab equipped with the 5.3-liter, and it returned a 0-to-60 time of 6.7 seconds. We have no reason to doubt that a comparably equipped Sierra would accomplish the task in the same time. Cruising on the highway, the 5.3 switches to V-4 mode to help save fuel. In two-wheel-drive guise, the Sierra V-8 returns an EPA-estimated 16 city mpg and 23 highway. Four-wheel-drive versions with the V-8 manage 16/22 mpg. For those interested in a little more economy at the expense of some power, there’s finally a credible V-6 option from GM. GMC hasn’t released any EPA fuel-economy estimates yet for the six; we’ll let you know as soon as it does. Six Serious Cylinders The standard 4.3-liter V-6 has been thoroughly redone. Not just a light nip and tuck, the engine has undergone a Michael Jackson–grade transformation. It might be distantly related to the Vortec 4300 that powered Chevy Astros and GMC Safaris when “Thriller” was still a hit, but the performance and the refinement are in line with that of 21st century V-6s. The 90-degree bank angle remains—a reminder of the engine’s

V-8 roots—but it has been enhanced from top to bottom with variable-valve timing, direct fuel injection, and cylinder deactivation. Power is up by 90 horsepower, and torque rises to 305 lb-ft, an improvement of 45 lb-ft over last year’s 4.3-liter V-6. Remember the Syclone and Typhoon supertrucks? The new naturally aspirated 285-hp 4.3-liter makes five more horsepower than the turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6s could muster. Even lugging the heavy crew-cab version, the V-6 provides what feels like sub-eight-second runs to 60 mph. Unlike the smaller-displacement V-6s from Ford and Ram, the 4.3-liter has good low-end grunt and consequently feels less strained than the competition. The car-derived Ford 3.7-liter V-6 and Ram 3.6-liter V-6 both make nearly 305 horsepower, but they fall short of the Sierra’s figure. The V-6 Sierra can tow 7200 pounds, which is 500 more than the V-6 Ford and 700 more than the V-6 Ram. This GM V-6 was designed from the git-go for truck use and is essentially a small-block Chevy V-8 with two fewer cylinders. The rest of the Sierra experience is, not

surprisingly, pure Silverado. No matter what engine is under the aluminum hood, both pickups have a quiet demeanor, an occasionally choppy but otherwise soft ride, and a smaller feel from behind the wheel than that of those big-rig-emulating competitors. The Sierra’s steering is accurate and doesn’t require constant corrections. A firm and confidence-inspiring brake pedal is almost sports-car-like, and the braking distances recorded by the Sierra’s Chevrolet analog were class-leading. Crew cabs are arriving at dealerships now, extended-cab models soon will follow, and the regular-cab version will debut by the end of the summer. Two-wheel-drive Sierra crew cabs start at $33,210; an equivalent Silverado opens at $32,710, but the Chevy lacks a few features, such as steering-wheel audio controls and an eight-inch touch screen, that justify the cost differential. Even discounting the small bump in standard equipment, the Sierra strikes us as the more attractive of the two GM full-size pickups. If you look hard enough, one twin will always be the better-looking one.

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A Look At Jim BenningABOUT BENNINGBenning was drafted 6th overall by the Leafs in the 1981 Draft. The defenceman was traded to the Canucks for Rick Lanz in the December of 1986. But his career with the Canucks was terribly rocky, as a poster at HF Boards points out (using old school quoted journalism):FLASH BACK-For a hockey team that fancies itself as fair and enlightened, the Vancouver Canucks have a funny way of showing it.-Take the bizarre case of defenceman Jim Benning, who figured to have played his final game for the Canucks after he was dropped from the team and made an outcast last week.-Benning, who wasn't being used by the Canucks, was asked to take a two-week demotion to Milwaukee for conditioning purposes - a move, after considerable soul-searching and personal anguish, he refused.-Rather than settling the situation privately, the Canucks made an unnecessary and publicized display by telling Benning to stay away from practice. Thus, the Canucks not only slighted a loyal employee who has given fair and reliable service, but also diminished whatever trade value Benning might have had. It was neither good public relations nor good business.Then, abruptly, Benning, 26, was asked to return to practice last Saturday and by Tuesday had worked his way back into the starting lineup when an injury to Harold Snepsts created an opening.In a return worthy of Rocky, Benning, in his first appearance in 12 games, had three assists as the Canucks played to a 7-7 overtime tie with the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night. In one evening, Benning compiled more points than teammate Larry Melnyk has managed in 65 games. He was a plus-one on the night and is now tied with the injured Brian Bradley for the team lead (plus-four).Benning, Bradley and Rich Sutter are the only Canucks on the plus side this season, but the plus/minus statistic is one that coach Bob McCammon claims is "abused by the media."Of course, coaches also abuse it too. Three seasons ago, when McCammon came to Vancouver, he dismissed Doug Lidster's 63-point season the previous year - a club single-season record for defencemen - by pointing to Lidster's horrible plus/minus.The past week has been one of the most difficult in every respect for Benning, a first-round pick by the Toronto Maple

Leafs in 1981 who three times was voted the Leafs' best defenceman. In his first season under McCammon, 1987-88, Benning had seven goals and 26 assists in 77 games and was selected the Canucks' best defenceman in a vote by the same know-nothing media.NOW, after nine seasons as a pro and more than 600 games played, the 185-pound Benning has read and listened to reports over the past week that the Canucks don't consider him big enough or strong enough to handle big forwards crashing around the net. Yet he stood defiantly in the battle zone in the third period against the Flyers, fencing with hulking Tim Kerr and getting clobbered over the helmet for his efforts.Benning says it has been difficult hearing that he's not good enough to play for a 20th-place team anymore, but he doesn't apologize for his size and even defends management's right

to change its mind."I've always tried to play a smart game and I've always felt I was a good enough skater to get the job done," Benning says. "The part about me not being physical enough never seemed to be a big issue before. But it's their team. They're the ones who make the decisions. If they decide they want a certain kind of player on this team, that's their choice."It gets better. No it doesn't. But the past is the past. I'm just giving you peeps a little history lesson.After his playing career was over, Benning:-served an amateur scout for the Anaheim Ducks (1993–94) and then joined the Buffalo Sabres as a scout (1994–98) and as Director of Amateur Scouting (1998–2004).Under his watch, the Sabres significantly drafted:-Dimitri Kalinin (1998)-Andrew Peters (1998)-Ales Kotalik (1998)-Ryan Miller (1999)

-Paul Gaustad (2000)-Derek Roy (2001)-Jason Pominville (2001)-Keith Ballard (2002)-Daniel Paille (2002)-Dennis Wideman (2002)-Thomas Vanek (2003)-Clarke MacArthur (2003)-Jan Hejda (2003)-Drew Stafford and Andrew Sekera and Mark Macari might be on his watch as well but I am not sure.In 2006 he became the assistant GM of the Bruins. A position he has held until now. Under his tenure the Bruins have drafted Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Joe Colbourne, Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton.Notable trades in his tenure as Bruins' assistant GM:-traded Andrew Raycroft to the Leafs in exchange for the rights to Tuukka Rask.-traded up in the 2006 Entry Draft to get Brad Marchand-Acquired Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew from the Flames in exchange for Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart and a draft pick (2007)-Acquired Adam McQuaid for 2007 pick (Jamie Benn)-Acquired Johnny Boychuk from Colorado in exchange for Matt Hendricks (2008)-Acquired Mark Recchi from Tampa for a couple of bums (2009)-Traded Phil Kessel to the Leafs in exchange for 3 top draft picks. 2 that are of current significance: Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton-In March of 2010 the Bruins traded Byron Bitz, Craig Weller and a 2nd round pick to Florida for Dennis Seidenberg and rights to Matt Bartkowski-In June of 2010 the Bruins trade Denis Wideman plus a 1st and 3rd round pick to the Panthers for Gregory Campbell and Nathan Horton. Nice. Panthers shit the bed on those picks, by the way.-February 2011 Bruins acquire Chris Kelly from the Senators for a 2nd round pick.-That same month they traded Mark Stuart and Blae Wheeler to the Thrashers for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik.-Also in February of 2011 the Bruins traded Joe Colbourne and 2 high picks to the Leafs for Tomas Kaberle.They soon won the Stanley Cup. Since then? Here ya go. The Bruins remain a top team in the NHL. Benning is a part of that. Peter Schiarelli isn't god. He has Benning to help him out as an assistant.It is time for Benning to take the helm of a team.Is he YOUR choice?

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Where Would Markus Naslund Fit With The Canucks?Former Canucks captain denies he’s been in Vancouver recently

Another day, another report of a recent Markus Naslund sighting in Vancouver.This time it was from a former neighbour, who says she was sure she saw the former Canucks captain strolling down the street in his old west-side neighbourhood.Naslund was as amused by this second appearance of his doppelganger — as he was earlier this week.Naslund was informed of the latest sighting via text message and was asked if he was in Vancouver eight days ago, or at all recently.He replied, “No,” then added, mirthfully, “Ask for pictures!”This, of course, leads to speculation that the Canucks are looking to bring Naslund — who left his position as GM of Swedish Hockey League club Modo recently — on board with the Canucks in some capacity.The Canucks, by the way, say there is nothing to these reports and that there have been no discussions with Naslund about a role with the team.Naslund said the same thing.We’ll take Naslund and the Canucks at their word, but it does bring up the interesting question of just where he might fit in the organization if that

scenario were to come about.Certainly, bringing Naslund, 40, back to the Canucks would make sense on some levels. For one, it further refreshes the face of the club with another popular former player — after Trevor Linden was named president of the Canucks last month.But Naslund — in consideration of his last three years as a GM in Sweden — also brings some significant managerial experience and savvy, particularly regarding the hockey landscape in Europe.So where would he fit in the Canucks organization?Certainly not the vacant GM position, where Boston assistant GM Jim Benning is expected to land once the Bruins’ playoffs are over.Naslund wouldn’t be qualified to take over the assistant GM position occupied by Laurence Gilman, the Canucks’ excellent contract negotiator and salary cap expert.You could say the same for the other assistant GM job held by Lorne Henning, who oversees player personnel — at least immediately — as it would take some time for Naslund to get up to speed in a detailed way on the NHL and its roughly 700 players.

But bringing Naslund in as a special adviser, with a multi-faceted plate of responsibilities, might be a good way for him to get his feet wet. Stan Smyl currently has a similar title, to go along with director of player development, so perhaps some of that could be off-loaded.Naslund said earlier this week he was still mulling his options after leaving his job with Modo.

“I want to take a bit of time to feel it all out, what I want to get involved in,” he said. “After I retired (as a player), I went back home and jumped right into it (GM of Modo) instead of seeing what was out there. I want to make the right decision.”Naslund said he has communicated with Linden, primarily to congratulate him on his new job, but has not talked with him about a position with the club.


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