{FILE IMAGE} The Administration of the RBPF apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Normal business hours will continue on Monday 27th February 2012. Enquiries can be made at telephone number 430-7244.

• David Welch | Inspector

Public Relations Officer of the RBPF

US President Barack Obama is persuaded by blues legend Buddy Guy to sing a few lines of Sweet Home Chicago with B.B. King at a White House blues festival. | Report by Mark Morris.

CariGES for Women, a registered charity, is working towards this goal, and we need your participation in helping to make it a reality.

• Benefit Dinner

On Saturday, March 3, 2012, we will be hosting our major fund-raising event to develop the Women’s Training, Counseling and Facilitation Centre (WTFC), a not-for-profit facility where women can attend classes and be trained in a variety of skills, which they can then utilize to earn their living and be financially independent. This fund raising event will contribute to the development of a fund to assist women in accessing healthcare needs, low-cost training programs, as well as provide affordable counseling and psychological support.
This formal event – “A Pink & Purple Affair” – will feature live entertainment by local divas and entertainers, food and drink, and will take place at Barbados Hilton in St. Michael at 7 p.m. CariGES for Women looks forward to your participation and support to our charity. A Looking forward to you taking part in the Fun Auction and spot prizes! Tickets are available at 416-9595.

• Open Forum Discussion, Part II

Mars and Venus in Harmony, Part II: another FREE Open Forum Discussion with Panelists Verla De Peiza, Dr. Jerrry Emtage, Nalita Gajadhar, The Rev. Dr. Marcus Lashley, Dr. Garth McIntyre and Moderator Tony Marshall. This forum will be held on Wednesday 7 March 2012 at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, UWI, Cave Hill, St. Michael at 7pm. Topics include * Belly Pain Every month? Fact or Excuse? * Safeguarding Assets, Before and After Marriage * How toKeep Arguments Out of Your Relationships * A Compliment or Sexual Harassment? * “Bottoms Up!“- Mine?? *

(CLICK FOR BIGGER) Men are especially invited to participate.

• Grand Fete

CariGES for Women will be hosting a Pink & Purple Affair party on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 9pm Food and premium drinks will be available. More details to follow on the venue!

(CLICK FOR BIGGER) Following on the heels of its popularly and critically acclaimed inaugural staging, the second edition of the Caribbean Fine Art (“CaFA”) Fair will be staged at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, Barbados, through March 11th.

The CaFA Fair opens on the 7th of March with 35 exhibitors of paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, original limited edition prints and new media exploring the cultural traditions of the Caribbean.

Construction is well underway at Valley View. The development will be completed by yearend with first homeowners being given the opportunity to move in by June.

“Valley View is the most compelling offer on the market today,” he said. “(This district) is an excellent location for this type of development – easy access South, North and into Warrens….you get your own parcel of land – no shared ownership or complicated title….the construction is fully funded by the developer and for as little as $37,000 your client can get on to the property ownership ladder,” he added.

Valley View features an attractive financing package where purchasers can borrow money to purchase a home without the need for a bridging loan. Potential homeowners can buy the land and then later pay for the house upon completion. Currently 14 of the 37 plantation-styled homes are already at roof level while four of the five Gillespie & Steel designs are “walk-thru” ready.

The Valley View community was created out of the need for Barbados to have well-designed, high quality homes within a development that is built out by the developer and not just developed and sold as lots. Each home takes into account homeowner requirements and is built to achieve a beautifully finished home at a competitive price within in an excellent location.

The development will be completed by yearend with first homeowners being given the opportunity to move in by June. This very short period to completion means that homeowners will be moving into a completed neighbourhood. Mallalieu noted this was a very strong factor in enhancing the value of the neighborhood.

Valley View is Barbados' newest neighbourhood | highlighting: Sage, Lot 116

Valley View features an attractive financing package where purchasers can borrow money to purchase a home without the need for a bridging loan. Potential homeowners can buy the land and then later pay for the house upon completion. Currently 14 of the 37 plantation-styled homes are already at roof level while four of the five Gillespie & Steel designs are “walk-thru” ready.

The Valley View community was created out of the need for Barbados to have well-designed, high quality homes within a development that is built out by the developer and not just developed and sold as lots. Each home takes into account homeowner requirements and is built to achieve a beautifully finished home at a competitive price within in an excellent location.

Managing Director of Terra Caribbean Andrew Mallalieu speaks to real estate agents and potential homeowners.

The development will be completed by yearend with first homeowners being given the opportunity to move in by June. This very short period to completion means that homeowners will be moving into a completed neighbourhood. Mallalieu noted this was a very strong factor in enhancing the value of the neighborhood.

{CLICK FOR BIGGER} The Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, UWI Cave Hill Campus presents the 2012 International Diaspora Arts Festival | Tel. (246) 417-4776 | Fax (246) 417-8903 | ebcci@cavehill.uwi.edu | www.cavehill.uwi.edu/ebcci | Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, St. Michael, Barbados, BB11000

End of Year Students’ Presentations – 22nd March to 7th May, 2012

{AT FAR END OF PHOTO} Trinidad's Peter Parmell addresses BIPA in 2011 - the Twin Island Alliance has way more members, they number in the thousands and they have been aggressive from the start!

Now understand, when I go to a BIPA meeting – I am snapping more pictures than the Amazing Neighbourhood Peter Parker, but hang on… In fact for fairness, here’s what they said;-

I got a very distressing called last night from the niece of Sir Phillip Greaves regarding his comments raised at our last meeting. Her concern was the spin you put on his comments and the fact that he was recorded and put on the www without his knowledge.

I had also raised this issue with you a few weeks ago regarding the same issue with what Tariq shared with members at that same meeting.

Ian, we love that you support us and we know that, that support is genuine but BIPA members’ meetings are private and that is why we do not invite the press. When you come, it is usually you alone and we acknowledge your presence as a “friend of BIPA”. However, to record our entire meetings and at selective times put what we share in those meetings online for the world to see is upsetting and deceptive to the unsuspecting member and the organization as a whole.

We produce our own press releases and distribute to the media what we want the public to know. Our meetings allow members to share from their hearts without fear or favour and to share those moments with the world is almost unforgiveable but we have forgiven you and have decided that you will not be allowed to attend any further meetings of BIPA unless we invite the media.

• Now, what BIPA conveniently left off, since it was only conveyed verbally and therefore can only be construed as “he said/she said“ drama, is that Media were invited for their 1st February session, but only at the last minute (only MOI arrived, which was cool with me as it meant EXCLUSIVE). In addition, I TOLD their Public Relations, the angle I am looking at is what Sir Philip said! I was not asked by their PR to ignore or overlook his significant comment.

Apart from that, here’s what I informed them;-

Considering I have a large Tripod and put my Nikon Camera on it to make a video of the proceedings in plain sight of all, and when I place my Voice Recorder by the speaker of the Public Address and no one challenges me as to the purpose of such recordings, PLUS since I make no play of hiding any effort to record these meetings, I therefore find your stance rather shocking.

In addition, I also constantly mention my website and its link at your meetings, the audience is fully aware then my website is an Online newspaper – it seems now that under advisement, the group is now running scared and looking to administer damage control after the fact.

BIPA Chair June Fowler at Left; at Podium their Attorney, Tariq Khan - Maybe Oz can do for them what he did for the Lion?

As you point out and freely admit, I have not sought to be an Enemy but an Ally – if your group feels rolling over and showing their belly to CL Financial, Government and whoever else is in their best interests, I can only wish you good luck in your endeavours.

By issuing this correspondence to me without any hint of sanctions is cowardly, reprehensible and far worse, sad… Leroy Parris at al. don’t even have to set their attorneys on you, you’re doing it yourselves!

• Clarifying what I said in my last paragraph, at no point did BIPA’s executive give me a first or second warning – I was asked to hide a video for Legal reasons and I complied instantly; then when I subsequently carried Sir Philip’s remark (which I trailed for DAYS on Facebook, plenty of time for any BIPA Executive to call me out on it) at what was NOT stated as a CLOSED session via their advertising - they have asked me to list their meetings more than once on my Facebook wall, yet I am suddenly slapped like an infant or brushed off like an ungrateful employee?

Maybe I am stirring up too much anti-CL Financial sentiment? If BIPA is running scared, then how cohesive a force are they in representing their client’s needs when true pressure is yet to bear down?

I truly hope they find that strength, they’re really gonna need it, and in one heck of a hurry too! Because if who they’re batting against is barely flexing their muscles now, and they’re cringing now, what will happen at the Day Of Reckoning for all those Bajans who are looking to recover their money due them?

When a dutiful, albeit barren Christian housewife discovers that her devout husband has suffered a stroke at a sperm bank where he's been secretly donating his seed for the past 25 years, she leaves her sheltered world and starts off on a journey to find his eldest biological son - a mullet-headed, foul-mouthed ex-con with whom she develops an odd but meaningful relationship.

Karma's Gregory Ayuen works it for the ladies - To keep up to date with Karma’s 2012 tours and latest happenings log onto: http://www.karmaholics.com/

Set to the backdrop of the picturesque downtown Port-Of-Spain waterfront, the dynamic Karma initiated the soundtrack to what was one of this Carnival season’s most highly anticipated events.

Thousands of attendees who were feasting on the fete’s countless culinary temptations and sipping on a seemingly endless supply of luxurious libations all got into the party mode from the beginning of the famed crossover band’s set.

Ravi B and Nisha B pose with business mogul Junior Sammy and friends in the VIP section of the Hyatt's LIME soiree

2010 Chutney Soca Monarch Ravi B alongside fellow frontline vocalists Nisha B and Gregory Ayuen and their team of talented musicians delivered a diverse set which satisfied the many musical cravings of the massive crowd which consisted of local government ministers, international celebrities and the global feting elite. Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago Anand Ramlogan, T&T’s Minister of Trade and Industry Stephen Cadiz, business mogul Junior Sammy and US actor Lance Gross were all present for the high-powered performance.

LIME patrons enjoying the performance by Chutney-Soca band 'Karma'

The youthful band captivated the mammoth gathering at the Hyatt with its fusion of original Chutney-Soca hits and classic Calypso selections. The energetic, charismatic performers won the hearts of appreciative audience members (who varied in age, race and nationality) and broke down cultural barriers with their powerful renditions of Carnival 2012’s biggest grooves such as “Mr. Fete”, “Bacchanalist” and “The Vibes Cyah Done” and their mix and mastery of modern day Pop, Hip-Hop and Dance music smashes.

After ending their pulsating performance with a medley of 2012 Power Soca contenders, Karma received positive reviews from several satiated patrons and staff members on hand.

From right T&T’s Minister of Trade and Industry Stephen Cadiz, Senator Vasant Bharath, Arvinder Bharat, Suzette Cadiz and Karma frontman Ravi B

For 2012 the band Karma will headline several major shows and music festivals in Guyana and North America. The band also aspires to simultaneously promote the Chutney-Soca art form and Caribbean unity by featuring at more events within the region.

On 14th December, the four-man boat, named HM&S Twiggy, departed the Canary Islands for Barbados. 65 days, 2604 miles and 2,880 boiled sweets later, the team arrived in Port St. Charles, Barbados. Braving difficult mid-Atlantic weather conditions and pushing their bodies to physical limits was relatively easy compared to the sorts of things they saw in their years in the Royal Marines.

Supporters can go to www.prostatemarksmen.com to make a donation. M&S, its employees and customers have donated over £1m to The Prostate Cancer Charity over the last five years, supporting the Charity’s flagship campaigns such as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Movember.

The Prostate Marksmen – consisting of Graham Witham, Ken Maynard, Jason Howard-Ady and Aldo Diana – far exceeded their £75,000 fundraising target for the charity by hosting a range of fundraising activities, including three rowathons in London, Southampton and Bournemouth, and selling £5,000 worth of raffle tickets. M&S employees also contributed by raising over £60,000 towards the total in just three weeks.

Crew captain and Marks & Spencer employee, Graham Witham commented: “It’s been a challenging but incredible journey and it wouldn’t have been possible without the overwhelming support of friends, family and sponsors. The amount of money we’ve been able to fundraise is a testament to that.”

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “We are truly grateful for the Prostate Marksmen’s efforts in this impressive challenge in support of The Prostate Cancer Charity. Their Herculean endeavour exemplifies the superb spirit in which M&S employees have taken this partnership to their hearts and made it such a success. This is a clear sign of their ongoing support, dedication and commitment to helping us fight prostate cancer.”

Marc Bolland, Chief Executive of M&S, commented: “It goes without saying that the accomplishment Graham and his crewmates have achieved is truly exceptional. Not only have they crossed an ocean to raise awareness of the important work that The Prostate Cancer Charity does, but also they have been an inspiration for all of us at M&S.”