Fasting is a good practice, if properly implemented.

It promotes elimination of toxins from the body, reduces blood sugar and fat stores. It promote healthy eating habits and boost immunity.

Here are top ten health benefits you can derive from fasting.

Promotes detoxification Processed foods contain lots of additives.

These additives may become toxins in the body.

Some of them promote production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Most of these toxins are stored in fats.

Fat is burnt during fasting, especially when it is prolonged. And the toxins are released.

The liver, kidneys and other organs in the body are involved in detoxification.

Rests digestive system During fasting, the digestive organs rest.

The normal physiologic functions continue especially production of digestive secretions, but at reduced rates.

This exercise helps to maintain balance of fluids in the body.

Breakdown of food takes place at steady rates.

Release of energy also follows a gradual pattern.

Fasting, however, does not stop production of acids in the stomach.

This is reason patients with peptic ulcer are advised to approach fasting with caution.

Some experts believe they should not fast.

Resolves inflammatory response Some studies show that fasting promotes resolution of inflammatory diseases and allergies. Examples of such inflammatory diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis and skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Some experts assert that fasting may promote healing of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

Reduces blood sugar Fasting increases breakdown of glucose so that the body can get energy. It reduces production of insulin.

This rests the pancreas.

Glucagon is produced to facilitate the breakdown of glucose. The outcome of fasting is a reduction in blood sugar.

Increases fat breakdown The first response of the body to fasting is break down of glucose.

When the store of glucose is exhausted, ketosis begins. This is break down of fats to release energy. The fats stored in kidney and muscles are broken down to release energy.

Corrects high blood pressure Fasting is one of the non-drug methods of reducing blood pressure.

It helps to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is clogging of arteries by fat particles. During fasting glucose and later, fat stores are used to produce energy. Metabolic rate is reduced during fasting. The fear-flight hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline are also reduced. This keeps the metabolic steady and within limits. The benefit is a reduction in blood pressure.

Promotes weight loss Fasting promotes rapid weight loss. It reduces the store of fats in the body. However, fasting is not a good weight loss strategy. Reducing fat and sugar intake, and increasing fruits and rest are better measures to achieve weight reduction.

Promotes healthy diet It has been observed that fasting reduces craving for processed foods. It promotes desire for natural foods, especially water and fruits. This is one way fasting promote healthy lifestyle.

Boosts immunity When an individual is on balanced diet in between fasts, this can boost immunity. Elimination of toxins and reduction in fat store also helps the body. When individuals take fruits to break a fast, they increase the body’s store of essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A and E are good antioxidants readily available in fruits. They help to boost immunity.

Fasting may help to overcome addictions Some authors show that fasting can help addicts reduce their cravings, for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and other substance abuse.

Although there are other regimens required to resolve addictions, fasting can play a role.

Despite these benefits, fasting has some demerits. It may cause reduction in body water called dehydration. This leads may lead to headaches and even trigger migraines in predisposed persons. It may worsen heartburn and peptic ulcer. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, malnourished people and individuals with cardiac arrhythmias, renal or liver problems are advised not to fast.

Staff told Newsday the current procedure, practice and conditions are turning misunderstood children into criminals, rather than rehabilitating them.

The call came after Newsday reported that 11 of the inmates at the home had escaped last Tuesday. Staff members said there is a need for the home’s perimeter to be fixed, for security cameras to be installed and for staff to be trained in the methods to deal with the unruly children at the home.

“Are they going to de-commission the home, or put better staff there?” questioned one staff member, “There are no “bad” children. These children, like all others, need love and attention.

But the people in control of the school are not doing what they are supposed to do and the children are suffering because of it.” Staff members said that they alone should not shoulder the blame for the escape of the 11 boys, but the blame should go all the way to the Prime Minister.

“The staff alone is not to blame, the fault should go from the magistrate who puts the children in the institution, to the Children’s Authority who handles the legal aspects of the home, to Prime Minister Rowley who is the minister for the area,” said a staff member.

“The boys are running away because the fencing has not been fixed. So children escape and return to the home with drugs. What are they doing to fix the home? The home takes in children with serious charges, like murder, drug and gun possession and robbery.

How do you treat with them?” Two of the 11 escapees were recaptured last Thursday afternoon in Santa Cruz. The mother of one of the children who remain at large, contacted Newsday, saying her son has complained of ill treatment at the home. “When I go to the home they give me the best report but when I talk to my son, he says they are treating him real bad in there.” “I tried talking to the Children’s Authority about the abuse last year, but nothing has been done. They need to get rid of all the bad apples and the bad security and make a change in that home,” she said.

Officials at the home reported the 11 teens missing at about 4 pm last week Tuesday, after checks were made at the rehabilitation wing of the school, where the escapees were said to be placed.

The boys were said to have been placed at the home after they were convicted of several crimes. One was arrested for his involvement in the robbery and murder of former soldier Calvert Dexter James during this year’s J’Ouvert celebrations.

Prince is set to graduate from Berklee in 2021, but needs help to get him there. So through the Joseph Foundation for Youth Arts Development, he’s going to host Dare to Dream IV at the Central Bank Auditorium, Port of Spain, on August 13. The proceeds from the show will go toward his studies.

The memory seemed as fresh as when it just happened.

“I got the results on September 15, 2015, and I was in school. The night before, I could not sleep, I was just up. I was telling a friend, ‘Results coming out tomorrow and I don’t want to stress,’ but I was really excited and nervous as I did not know what to expect. I remember when I went to school the results was supposed to come out at four and when I saw four and it did not come out as yet, I was like, ‘Wow.’ Four ten, 4.15, nothing. So I called and said I did not get my results as yet. They said, ‘Oh yeah it coming right now.’ When I checked again it was there and when I opened it and saw, ‘Congratulations,’ I could not believe it. When I clicked again and saw that I had gotten a partial scholarship, I was like, ‘Thanks to God’,” he said.

Prince first attended Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive for two years and then transferred to Woodbrook Secondary where he finished forms three to five, and did music at the CXC level. After graduating, he attended the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ), gaining arts diploma in music performance in two-anda- half years. He graduated in November 2015. That same year he got his results for Berklee, so when he graduated in November, he left TT on December 28, a month early, to settle in.

Prince, who lives at River Estate, Diego Martin has loved pan and wanted a music career since he began playing pan at Diego Martin Boys’ RC. He said initially his hobbies were football and music. But at eight, when he began playing with Merry Tones Steel Orchestra, music got the nod. At that time arranger for Merry Tones Kendell Lewis would teach the school’s young students, and it’s Lewis whom Prince credited with giving him the strong musical foundation he has today.

“Kendell Lewis was my first steelpan teacher and he was the one who showed me all the fundamentals and all the starting-off basics of playing the steelpan. He was the one that really helped me in my true development with the steelpan.” Although no other member of his immediate family is musical, Prince said his parents, Martin and Karen Prince, constantly supported and fostered his love for pan and music.

“My parents always pushed and supported me in going further and further with my music.

They would take time out of their schedule to drop me to music class every Saturday, drop me to lessons, sign me up for different exams, buy the instruments I needed. They always gave of their time.” Being at Berklee has not only fulfilled one of Prince’s dreams but led him to “jam” with other artistes such as Beyonce’s original all-female band, Cirque du Soleil’s drummer Andre Boyd and John Legend’s musical director Eugene “Man Man” Roberts.

He has also performed in several US cities such as like Nashville, Philadelphia and Boston.

Prince hopes to demonstrate to the US and the rest of the world that the pan is more than capable of playing anything. Ultimately he plans to network pan and truly showcase it in the US.

“I also plan to give back to TT as well as my main aim and philosophy is to never forget where I have come from and to always give back.” He wants one day to have the pan in different gigs, shows, music schools and academies across the US while opening workshops and schools in TT .

A tenor pannist, he favours jazz, jazz fusion and gospel. His show will include a mixture of music, calypso, jazz, gospel, R&B and pop.

The show will feature performers such as Nehilet Blackman, May Scott, Nathaniel Hamilton, Vanessa Briggs, John John Francis and Gerelle Forbes. Anthony Woodruff, Rodney Alexander, Ron Clarke, Eric Fellis, Joshua Salcedo, Dillon Jacob, Andell Jerome, Joshua Khan and Ajibola Sheena Richardson will comprise the band. Tickets cost $250.

“That’s ok as all is fair is love and war, especially when it comes to culture. Because it is a war meant to see who can do better,” she said, adding that her ministry fully supports this secondary school competition festival as it promotes the youths in art and culture of TT.

She went on to say that we face difficult time in world today and TT is not exempted from that.

“Being involved in culture gives us that gravitas that allows us to be resilient and helps us to overcome times when we can get depressed,” she said, noting that Sanfest helps the participating students to excel in the arts and this brings promise of greater things to come in the future. Dr Gadby Dolly made the trip to south on Saturday evening to opened the 2017 NGC’s Sanfest competition at the council on Circular Road, San Fernando. Director of Sanfest 2017, Avion Crooks said that Sanfest is celebrating its 47 years and the initial objective remains to present a forum for the many cultural groups and individual performers to showcase their talents in a safe and nurturing environment. “While competition is inherent in the human spirit, the ideal of Sanfest was to introduce a stage where southerners could perform our traditional dances, stories of our heritage, skills in recitation and various musical abilities in an entertaining and collegial environment,” she said. She noted that the council forms a financial partnership with the National Gas Company of TT in 2003, and the their involvement with the festival has grown from strength to strength. “NGC has done and continues to do, what we believe all business organisations should do – invest in the greatest resource of our country, our youth, in a tangible and sustainable way,” she said.

Each year from September to November, she says, the council witnesses the coming together of excited, anxious, passionate and often perspiring people, bringing the product of hours of training and rehearsal to a stage that I hope is warmly accepting and nurturing. This year Sanfest pays tribute to Calypso Rose, (Linda McArtha Monica Sandy- Lewis) by having her music form the body of work featured in our pan competition.

This year the council honours Torrence Mohammed whom is a recipient of the Medal of Merit in 1976. Mohammed has worked steadfastly in areas such as Best Village, in theatre and drama, in Carifesta. He served the community of San Fernando as a Deputy Mayor and he is a former chairman of the San Fernando Arts Council and the National Dance Association.

Crooks mentioned the Mr and Miss Sanfest which offer opportunities for overall growth and development of students in the performing arts. “Students must be concerned with building elaborate portfolios showing their involvement with activities other than academics,” Crooks said, adding that they at the council have long come to understand that holistic education builds a better world citizen and a more socially adaptive person.

Employers, she says are interested now in an employee’s understanding of fair play, competition, beauty in design, team work and passion. This , she noted is difficult to teach in the classroom but that is the foundation of the festival.

Research has found that simply having more officers on the streets patrolling and making their presence known and felt, even if they are not arresting or pulling over anyone, can put a dent in criminal activity.

The characteristics of a country that has crime under reasonable control are the strong management and accountability techniques within a police department, as well as efficiency in collecting important data which are then used to identify crime patterns and which allow for the selecting of criminal hot spots and tactics to deploy resources to break criminal patterns.

Adding more efficient police officers can reduce the rate of crime and create a higher criminal detection rate.

CHELSEA BEDASE El Dorado

Mother’s Day will always be more prestigious than Father’s Day because it was designed to be so; although they are both commercial in content. I support the fact that mothers are the central unit of the family and the nurturers but they encourage a lot of slackness in the society with regard to their children.

Women were not made to rule the world, but because of the absenteeism and irresponsibility of us men, we have given up our throne without a fight. We have to take it back. To do this we must stop being downright stupid and lead from the front.

Barack Obama, the former president of the US, is a great father and dignified leader. Nelson Mandela proved to be one of the greatest human beings to walked the face of this Earth; he had charisma, humility and wisdom.

Donald Trump, US President, has been an outstanding father regardless of his shortcomings.

I had a compatriot, Anthony Byer, who should be applauded for his efforts to achieve great heights and at the same time being a fine husband and father.

Wayne Huggins, a former co-worker, at one time looked after his children on his own and is now quite comfortable in life after walking down the aisle for a second time.

There is also Kirt Niles, my childhood prodigy. Although not married, he instilled values, standards and ethics of behaviour in his three children. We grew up in hard times and coming from a depressed area we had to work ten times harder, but we made it.

I never abdicated my throne.

I attended my children’s (two daughters) Parent-Teacher Association meetings and performed my fatherly duties, giving justice where it was due. Some might say I am a bit too strict, but that has kept them in line. I am happy to say I had excellent parents from the old school.

The world has changed tremendously due to all this technology.

Respect for people and the law are things of the past.

Motorists drive in the wrong direction on one-way streets, break traffic lights, overtake when they should not and cause fatalities.

How can I forget my neighbours Rex Griffith and Frankie O’Neil, two gems. Rex has been referred to as an “A-Plus” husband and Frankie, a jack-of-all trades who is always willing to extend a helping hand.

All is not lost in the man’s world, the young ones just have to pick up the pieces and resume their leadership. To the illiterate males in the society, stop embarrassing us as we are precious to the world. Leave Fr Clyde Harvey and others alone, they are exemplars.

Thanks to Luther Vandross for that wonderful song, Dance With My Father. Happy Father’s Day to men across the world (one day latter).

EARL MARTIN Trincity

McIntyre had penned an article criticising the current Venezuelan President for interfering in the democratic process by undermining the Venezuelan military, “increasing his reliance on them to control the economy, intimidating opponents and suppressing popular discontent.”

I wonder if McIntyre would be willing to tell us of the many times the Government of the US interfered in the democracy of other nations.

Would he be willing to tell us how the US Government subverted the elected government of Dr Cheddi Jagan in Guyana in the 1960s, and installed Forbes Burnham because he was more palatable to their tastes?

Is he aware that the US Government forgot its own history of Guyanese subversion and in 1992 when Jagan was again elected as president, nominated William C Doherty Jr, executive director of the American Institute for Free Labor Development, as US ambassador to Guyana?

Is he aware that Doherty was the man, courtesy of the CIA, allegedly responsible for subverting the Jagan government in the 1960s?

Would he be willing to tell us about the US modus operandi for overthrowing governments? Is it a three-pronged approach? Does it involve creating and strengthening opposition forces, violent street demonstrations, a coup d’etat?

Is this the model currently being used in Venezuela?

Does he remember that in April 2002, Chavez was briefly removed from power by a coup d’etat but was reinstalled two days later after a popular uprising?

Could he tell us whether an unelected president by the name of Pedro Carmona was installed with the courtesy of the US Government? Was he visited immediately after by the then US ambassador to Venezuela, Charles Shapiro? Did his presidency last only for one day?

It is so ironic that the country that touts itself as the bastion of democracy does so much to undermine that same process in other parts of the world.

Please allow me to tell my family and friends in the US that I would no longer be able to visit them.

LINUS F DIDIER Mt Hope up for the 2018 World Cup

The Magic Flute follows the exciting story of the Prince Tamino and the comedic bird catcher Papageno as they try to rescue the Princess Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, who has been kidnapped by the mysterious sorcerer Sarastro, but all is not as it appears.

This opera is one of the most famous and popular throughout the world and is a brilliant introduction to and opera for young audiences as it features an engaging storyline, vocal pyrotechnics and catchy music.

A special gala performance will take place on June 30, a media release stated.

All other performances of the opera will take place as scheduled on the official festival calendar (ttoperafest.com) with open seating available to patrons at a general admission ticket of $200.

Ticket specials for students, seniors and groups are available on the official festival website.

Magic flute will be one of several events and activities, which will take place over the two weeks of the opera festival, the focus of which will be young, Trinbagonian classical singers.

The festival will be held at the newly-opened auditorium at the Government Plaza, corner of Richmond and Queen Streets in Port of Spain.

The Magic Flute will be directed by Dr Helmer Hilwig with costuming by Margaret Sheppard and musical direction by June Nathaniel and feature flutist Martina Chow, percussionist Demika Lawrence and NYC-based pianist Byron Burford- Phearse.

This abridged version of the opera will be performed in English by an award-winning cast which will include Natalia Dopwell, Rory Wallace and Raguel Gabriel, Tamika Diandra- Joseph, Jason Lawrence, Krisson Joseph, Shellon Antoine, Shannon Navarro, Sabrina Marks and Maegan Pollonais.

A Young Singer Professional Development workshop will be held on July 1 from 1pm to 6pm for anyone interested in participating. Six to eight advanced tertiary- level singers will perform in an audition scenario in front of a live audience and a panel of internationally- trained members of the Picoplat Young Artist Collective. They will provide constructive feedback on their audition materials and presentation, with the aim of improving the understanding of audition standards.

This event is free to participants and audience members and is suitable for anyone interested in improving audition materials or finding out current industry protocols for college, musical theatre or cruise ship performer auditions.

Young Singer Series will culminate in a showcase performance on July 8 from 7.30pm featuring participants of the Young Singer Workshop alongside members of the Picoplat Young Artist Collective.

The TT Opera Festival along with other developmental outreach events, is presented with the support of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts.

To learn more about the TT Opera Festival 2017, visit the website www.ttoperafest.com, email ttoperafest@ gmail.com or call 632-2548 for further information about events and the many discount ticket opportunities! Opera Festival highlights • Gala Red Carpet opening night, The Magic Flute – June 30 at 7.30pm.

• Young Singer Workshop – July 1, 1pm to 6pm.

• Early Matinee performance, The Magic Flute – July 2 at 4pm.

• Opera Festival outreach (by invitation to schools only) – July 4 • #OperaLime special event, The Magic Flute – July 7 at 7.30pm.

• The Young Singer Showcase – July 8, at 7.30pm.

• Closing Night matinee performance, The Magic Flute – July 9 at 6pm.

Mairam, who was recently selected for the Trinidad and Tobago Under 19 team, wrecked the top order of Younstaz with his steady leg-spin. Together with Jahron Alfred (2/16), they restricted the batting side to only 97 runs all out in the last over of their innings.

In EYM`s reply, Richard Ali battered the bowlers throughout his unbeaten innings of 67 runs from 27 balls with seven fours and three sixes. He was aided by his opening partner Kwasi Alfred with 21 runs before he was run out. Ali then sealed the victory with two consecutive sixes in the 13th over.

The evening before, Amir Jangoo starred with bat and ball in consecutive games for the Combine All Stars ‘B’ team who defeated Central Empire by five wickets. Jangoo, known as a wicket-keeper/batsman for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, had bowling figures of three for 10 from his four overs and also scored 44 runs.

Central Empire won the toss and were bowled out in the 19th over for a meagre 110 runs. Their total was boosted by the innings of 28 runs from Saiba Batoosingh and an aggressive 21 off 12 balls from Dejourn Charles which included two maximums from his first two balls faced. Isaiah Rajah had bowling figures of three for 21 from his four overs.

The opening pair of Sheldon Thomas and Jangoo for the Combine All Stars later put together a partnership of 88 runs which set up the victory. Thomas scored a patient 28 runs from 32 balls and the subsequent Man of the Match Jangoo made his 44 runs from 33 balls with two fours and three sixes. After the opening pair fell, they lost another three wickets but reached their target of 111 runs in the 17th over quite comfortably.

Unlike 2015, when heavily armed police physically removed him from the podium in Charlie King junction, Duke took to the stage near Avocat Junction. But he did not address the hundreds of workers.

Instead, PSA general secretary Gorgonia Auguste spoke briefly and noted she was honoured to be there.

Auguste added that together trade unions shall be a force to be reckoned. She vowed that unions shall fight for whatever is right. Trade unions celebrated 80 years of militant union representation and for the first time at Avocat Junction, union leaders addressed the crowd there followed by a second address at Charlie King Junction at Fyzabad.

A total of 17 leaders from united labour movement addressed the gathering all of whom charged that workers are being under attack and the movement will continue to fight for the rights of workers. The movement comprises of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN).

MODERN DAY SLAVERY President of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU) Vincent Cabrera accused both Government and the Opposition of failing to support the working class.

He added that many labour laws that are keeping back the working class. He also highlighted some the plights of workers in the banking industry and described working at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) as, “The best example of modern day slavery.” He recalled that after waiting six years, the union received recognition and obtained a certificate, “yet RBC gone for judicial review.” “They are daily paying for Senior Counsel and using the High Court as a shield to protect itself against the workers. Tobago workers told them to go to hell.

The trade union leaders cannot do it alone,” Cabrera said. He charged that Republic Bank Ltd made over a billion dollars in profit but is offering, “A measly six percent to its workers.” “Exploitation did not end with Emancipation. Exploitation did not end with the end of Indentureship,” Cabrera said. Unlike previous years, when music truck accompanied workers in the march from Avocat to Fyzabad, that was not so yesterday as police claimed no permission was given.

To the police, Cabrera said they are the sons and daughters of working people and must learn to respect working people and learn join with them. However, he placed blame on senior police officers whom he said gave the instruction to ban the music trucks. The lack of music did not stop workers from dancing and singing during the march.

Petrotrin Cadet Force provided entertainment in addition to there being rhythm sections and moko jumbies all under the watchful gaze of police officers.

SANITATION WORKERS DISRESPECTED President of the Industrial General and Sanitation Workers Union Robert Benacia, in his address, told the gathering that SWMCOL and all other sanitation workers in the country have always been treated with total disrespect. This although they are classified as workers of essential service.

“We risk our health and lives performing extremely hazardous job which exposes us to the indiscriminate dumping of all manner of hazardous waste especially those that work at the dumps.” Government after government continues to pay lip service to the already exploded time bombs at the three major dumps in Trinidad and one in Tobago, Benacia said.

“For over 50 years, radioactive waste, poisons, dead and diseased animals and numerous other hazardous materials have been dumped, putting us all at risk. Government failed to make waste management a priority,” Benacia added He quoted from a 2014 report by the ILO which stated that an estimated 15,000 chemicals are in use and another 2,000 produced each year of which approximately, half causes cancer.

BUFF FOR UNION LEADERS Also speaking was Michael Prentice of the Amalgamated Workers Union who said he wasn’t there for cosmetic reasons and had some strong words for union leaders as well.

“We are not only fighting forces outside but inside also.

Once bitten, twice shy. I don’t want to be bitten twice, who vex loss. George Weekes, (Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’) Butler and (Adrian Cola) Rienzi must be turning in their graves today to see what we are passing off for trade union leaders. We must not sit back as trade union leaders.

JTUM is in for a sale,” Prentice said. JTUM leader Ancel Roget was the master of ceremonies at Avocat Junction.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Lynsley Doodhai called on Government to begin wage negotiations now for the 2014/2017 period as well as for the Education Ministry to, “sort out the mess of EFCL.” President of the Sheep and Goat Farmers Association Shiraz Khan encouraged the nation to support local farmers by consuming more local products.