Moontown

It was Soca and party fever last Thursday night in Moon Town, St. Lucy, Barbados, as fans gyrated and danced to the sweet pulsating rhythm of ‘Touch’ Steelband music.

The pannists Adrian Ward, Steve Ward and Jason Philips brought flavor and excitement to sweet Caribbean Reggae music. The night would not have been over without the sounds of Crop Over Soca and Calypso music,  past and present, that saw fans dancing in their seats and on the dance floor.

Locals and tourists were also treated to Sea Cat at half prize, BBQ Pig Tails, Spare Ribs, fried Snapper and Rum Punch to rival all other rum punch. You do not want to miss a Thursday night in Moon Town with the exciting dance crew and pannists from ‘Touch’ Steelband.

The police are warning taxi drivers and women to beware of suspicious strangers in the coming months.

Senior Sergeant William Holder of the Police Strategic Communications Department (Stratcom) said the warning comes as a result of the two incidents that happened this week.

Without adding details, he said that a few nights ago, passengers in a taxi attempted to rob the driver after hiring him to take them to a certain location.

Holder warned taxi drivers that if a customer looks suspicious it is better to lose a little change than risk life.

A young woman who allegedly got a ride from somebody she knew was taken to an undisclosed location. She was unaware of the two other males that were in the car when she got in.

She was reportedly assaulted.

As a result, the police are warning women to avoid going with individuals they are not quite sure about and if possible not go alone.

 Jamaica Gleaner

Certified chef de cuisine of the Culinary Institute of America and Runaway Bay HEART Academy and Hotel, Trudy Johnson, prepares one of her low-cost nutritional meals, Mackerel Stewed Peas, at the launch of the Consumer Affairs Commission’s nutritional guide on Wednesday. - ContributedThe Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) launched a nutritional guide, ‘Eating Right, When Money Tight’, at its head office, 2 Seaview Avenue, Kingston, on Wednesday.

The 40-page meal plan is aimed at assisting the most vulnerable consumers in providing nutritious meals at a reasonable cost to an average family of five persons. The guide contains basic recipes, low-cost meal ideas and nutritional tips for the entire family.

Speaking at the launch, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan, lauded the CAC on its efforts in providing a means by which the most vulnerable consumers can alleviate some of the challenges of the economic crisis.

“As is often the case, the ones who are more seriously affected in financially trying times such as these are those persons in thelower-income category, who are very often unable to meet their daily dietary needs,” Budhan pointed out.

“Being cognisant of this, and the debilitating impact that poor nutrition can have on health, the CAC took the initiative to assist the most vulnerable in our society by preparing this booklet,” he explained.

More balanced meals

He advised consumers to strive for more balanced meals, and to manage their finances to ensure this is attained.

He said it could be achieved through exercising greater care in shopping, to ensure that value is received for money spent.

The nutritional guide is not for sale and copies will be distributed across the island in book stores, schools, libraries, at the CAC offices and sister agencies.

-JIS News

Tips from the CAC

The CAC suggests the following nutritional tips:

Eat from all six food groups daily.

Choose carbohydrates wisely and eat sugary foods in moderation. Incorporate whole grain foods into your diet. These include whole wheat products such as brown bread and wheat flour.

Eat healthy snacks. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other foods high in fibre.

Monitor your intake of fats. Watch for naturally occurring invisible fat in foods such as milk and eggs.

Eat appropriate portions. Too much food can lead to weight gain.

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. Make use of those that are in season as they usually cost less.

Watch your intake of salt. Too much salt/sodium can cause high blood pressure and heart disease.

Drink plenty of water.

Having eaten all the right foods in the correct proportions, try to be physically active each day. Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day by walking, jogging, swimming, gardening, etc.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

 Jamaica Gleaner

Jagdeo Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo begins a five-day working visit to Jamaica today.

He will be accompaniedby Odinga Lumumba, his presiden-tial advisor on community development.

Jagdeo’s first assignment will be a tour of the Jamaica Broilers ethanol plant at Port Esquivel, St Catherine. He will also attend the Emancipation Jubilee at Seville, St Ann, this evening.

He will attend an Emancipation Day ceremony in Spanish Town’s square on Saturday and will meet with a Caribbean Community task force at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Jagdeo has been a staunch critic of free trade policies that undermine Caribbean sectors and has, in recent years, come under fire for attacks on sections of the Guyanese press.

RICE AND PEAS; CHICKEN PELAU

GARLIC POTATOES; MACARONI PIE

BREADFRUIT COU COU; GRILLED FISH

FRIED FISH; BAKED CHICKEN

BBQ SPARE RIBS; BAKED PORK

BEEF STEW; STEAMED VEGS; SALADS

Nation News (Barbados)

Thousands are expected to throng The Oval to see (from left) Sheldon Hope, Red Plastic Bag, TC, Adrian Clarke, Blood, Sir Ruel, John King, Colin Spencer and HeeHaw go at each other, note for note, for the kaiso monarchy. Missing was Bumba.(Picture by Cherie Pitt)

by JOHN SEALY

IT WILL BE a tussle of the ten as the créme de la créme of Barbados’ calypso battle one another for the coveted prize of Calypso Monarch in the LIME/Banks Pic-O-De-Crop Finals at Kensington Oval tonight. The show begins at 7 p.m.

After hectic preliminary and semifinal judging sessions, the ten kaisonians - Colin Spencer, John King, Heehaw, Blood, Bumba, RPB, Sir Ruel, AC, Sheldon Hope and TC will finally know who is “boss”.

“Preparing for finals is a very hectic time. I tell people that from my experience it is the shortest week that I have ever experienced,” noted Bumba, a 1987 monarch, after rehearsals yesterday. He will be doing The End Justifies The Means and Yes, We Can.

Adrian Clarke, the 2001 monarch and defending champion, said he had no anxiety.

“I just want to concentrate on my lyrics and don’t forget. I am looking at all, I am not going to get complacent. That is when surprises pop out. I can’t count out anyone,” added Clarke, who will be singing Jungle Life and Put Out.

Andy Williams, director of the Festival Band, promised a keen contest.

“Rehearsals started from Tuesday and things went fairly smoothly; we did not have any hiccups. This was one year that I was happy. We are very excited about this competition; you can’t say there is a clear winner. One thing I must say we had some very excellent songs and excellent arrangements. We are ready.”

Colin Spencer, who will be singing Inclusion In Reverse and Where Do We Go From Here, said he was feeling good. “I am in a frame of mind today that I wanted to be all week. Wednesday I had a problem with my throat; voice is my thing, so I had some hoarseness Wednesday and went in early last night. I am comfortable I am going to shock some people tonight.”

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Office has promised good weather for the evening. “We are not expecting much by way of showers . . . so we should have a good final,” said meteorologist Roslyn Blenman.

Police reported the public had been cooperating so far for Crop-Over and hoped this would continue.

“We know that they will continue to be well behaved and they would comply with the directions of the police and marshals and whoever else is in charge,” said public relations officer Station Sergeant Denis Depieza yesterday.

Stephen Brathwaite, co-ordinator of the National Cultural Foundation event, said preparations were going well.

Regarding any legal problems with calypsonians’ lyrics, he said the only person who would have had to submit his lyrics was Adrian Clarke and “both of his songs had been cleared”.

“There have been changes in lyrics but nothing that we have to go back to the calypsonians,” he added.

The calypsonians were at rehearsals yesterday at Kensington for the final sound check using a digital board.

“Normally with the sound engineers they have to turn little knobs and set the levels for the second sound check, but on the night they still have to do a little tweaking for each individual. With a digital board once that setting is recorded, they can save that to the system’s memory.

“On the night it is just a matter of recalling the setting for the individual artistes as they go along,” Brathwaite said.

He reminded the public that all the standard procedures would exist at the Oval - like search lanes before entry and no movement from the stands to the grounds. All entry to the grounds would be from the north gate near President Kennedy Drive.

Nation News (Barbados)

THE ESTABLISHMENT of an export-import bank is among the options on the table as Government searches for ways to boost the manufacturing sector in tough economic times.

“We need an export-import bank in this country,” Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce Dr David Estwick said on Wednesday.

“If Government has to go into a joint venture arrangement, we will do so. If we have to fund it directly, then we will do so.”

Estwick, who also holds the Economic Affairs, Empowerment and Innovation portfolios, said the new institution would provide “some merchant bank-type of operations”, essentially funding the export trade drive.

Government “can’t rely on the commercial banks to drive our export thrust”, he conceded.

He said Barbadians had to get away from the old ways of thinking and doing things and “from this North American/ European model of economics, this laissez faire Adam Smith philosophy that has failed.

“I feel that the example of Vietnam, the example of Korea, the example of Ireland, the example of Singapore, the many other Asian countries, are in fact evidence that small states need to take a more frontal role in determining the future development of their businesses.”

Estwick was briefing reporters after touring three businesses - Island Blends, River Bay Trading (both in the Wildey, St Michael industrial estate) and Millworks Inc. in Spring Hall, St Lucy.

He said Government was putting together a wide-ranging package to make life easier for exporters and other businesses, especially micro enterprises. It included offering easier access to loans as well as increasing the number of things on which such loans could be spent, Estwick reported.

One incentive would be removing debt to the Government as a barrier to businesses getting a chance to compete for state projects.

“The policy had been that once a business owes the VAT [Value Added Tax] office or you owe the NIS [National Insurance Scheme] money, that you could not apply for Government work,” he explained.

Estwick said that “very shortly” Government would be circulating a document to the effect that businesses owing it money would be allowed to bid for contracts.

If businesses succeed, “then we can establish arrangements where Government can be paid”. (TY)