Buddy Singh is a prominent businessman in the United States of America residing in South Richmond Hill, New York. Singh has been running his own Television show – “JKS-International Vibes” – on Time Warner Cable, now Spectrum TV, since January 2005 which can also be viewed on www.mywestindiantv.com. He has been in the Television business for over 24 years and has made quite a success of it.
After a visit to the island of Wakenaam in 2004, Singh received a letter from the Island's Secondary School asking for his help with computer and school supplies. On his return to New York he planned his first fundraiser show for August 14th, 2005 in Queens where he raised funds for the five Primary and one Secondary School in Wakenaam.

That show was not very successful but with the help of his cousin Naresh Singh, he was able to donate two computers each to the five Primary and the one Secondary School. They also contributed school supplies such as printers, microscope, books, pencils, crayons, erasers and more. From that point onwards, Buddy Singh used his own resources to support the Secondary School with supplies so as to elevate the standard of education for the children there. This he did for many years until he was asked in 2014 to assist with the provision of Internet services for the 23 computers sitting in the lab at the Secondary School.

Thereupon he planned his second fundraising show with the help of his childhood friend Tyron Madramuthu of Toronto. In February 2016, Singh created "Chutney Wine" to fund this project. "Chutney Wine 2016", held in Queens NY, received the support of the public, and with the proceeds Singh was able to pay for two years of Internet service costing US $1500 and in addition, procure sporting gears to the tune of US $3200.
In December 2016, Buddy Singh joined with Madramuthu, Pratap Singh and Davica Boodoo, both of Trinidad, to fund the Santa Claus Parade on the Island of Wakenaam. He also took an EKG machine to the Wakenaam hospital that was donated by Shanaz Hussain and (Hussain's) co-workers.
In January 2017, Singh sent two electric wheelchairs (scooters) to Guyana donated by Naro Bali of Windsor Forest and the Dookram family of Wakenaam. Also in 2017, he undertook to procure a prosthetic leg for Tulchand and to assist Mahindra, a needy young man, to improve his living conditions.
So on April 22th, 2017 Singh again joined with Madramuthu, Hussain, Chandraka Persaud, the Narshankar Manbodh family to hold the third fundraiser in Queens NY. This successful venture yielded $7620. But realizing that the funds were not enough for the projects he undertook, Singh has now teamed up with Toronto's Madramuthu to hold "Chutney Wine" this upcoming September 16th, 2017, at the Chandini Speranza Banquet Hall in Brampton, Ontario.
Buddy Singh has a registered Charity in New York, USA called “We Gat Ah Yuh Bac Corp” under which he continues to raise funds for the children and seniors of Wakenaam and he hopes, other Islands in Essequibo as well.
Singh is hoping that this endeavour will receive the fullest support of the Guyanese community and West Indians in general in the Toronto area and environs.
He says that this fundraising is the first of many to come with the aim of extending a helping hand as far as possible.
For information and sponsorship, please contact Tyron Madramuthu at 647-299-4890 or Buddy Singh, 646-320-4991.

Three sisters, now in their 80's, observed their birthdays in the month of August.
The latest to join the octogenarian club is Noshilla Kanhai, also known as Dhropati, who celebrated her 80th birthday with a prayer service on August 19, 2017, at the backyard of the residence of her grand daughter, Renata, and grand son-in-law Rueben, in Brampton, where she resides. Her birthday was on August 15th. Her other sisters, Hobrajie Mangal, aka Rama, celebrated her 88th birthday on August 4th, while her other sister, Jasodra Singh, aka Chan, observed her 85th birthday on August 14th. All three sisters live in close proximity in Brampton. Her other sister, Radhica Ghanshiam, observed her 81st birthday on October 24 ,2016. She resides in New York and came over for the special day. Their brother, Doorbhijai Singh, was also born on October 24th and is now 72. He resides in Florida. Another brother, Jhaman Singh became 78 on June 11th, 2017. The youngest sister Sushilla Singh (76) was unable to attend as she was in New York and an older sister, Indroutie Kumar from Toronto, had passed away in 2000 at age 69. She is sadly missed.
It was a wonderful family reunion as friends and family gathered for the grand occasion. The prayer service was conducted by Vijay Girdhari, of New Jersey, her nephew in law. It was spruced up with an impromptu talent show as family members rendered congratulatory songs for the occasion.

New York State Lt. Governor, Hon. Kathy Hockul, met with several members of the South Asian community in Queens, New York at a South Asian community leader roundtable discussion held on Monday, August 28th, 2017 at New Mejbaan Restaurant in Jackson Heights, New York.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide information about “some of the great programs and resources available for all New Yorkers”, followed by community activities, issues, interests and concerns shared by the South Asian members in attendance.
The meeting was organized by Hersh K. Parekh, Queens Regional Representative of the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Participating in the session was NYS Assemblyman Michael Dan Dekker, representing New York's 34th Assembly District, which includes Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and part of Woodside.
Among the members of the PIO community from the Caribbean were: Rhonda Binda, executive director of the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District; Ashook Ramsaran, president of Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) & chair of NYP/Q Community Advisory Council; Harbachan Singh, vice president of Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC) & former president of Queens Civic Congress; and Annetta Seecharran, executive director of Chhaya.
The meeting was the first of its kind and would be followed many more focusing on specific issues.

De Hoop, Strangroen & Columbia 14th Annual Picnic will be held Sept 9, 10am to 8pm at Milliken Park - Area B. Bring your kids and picnic baskets to enjoy a fun filled day of games, raffles and meeting old friends. Contact Leon 416-648-5681, Paul Joree 416-726-4153, Tum 905-428-1545, Janet 905 239 0891,

Toronto Arya Samaj invites the public to attend its annual Veda Yajna commencing from Friday, Sep 8, 2017 to Sunday, Sept 10, 2017. Friday and Saturday services from 630pm to 9pm and Sunday from 3pm to 5pm. Officiating Purohits, Pt Sachin Muttoo and Bahen Kavita Rai. For information please call Pt Dave Ramoutar, 416-663-4037, Pta Jasodra Prasad, 416-287-0330, Adit Kumar, 647-866-1926 or Satish Sharma, (647) 717-3087.

Avinash Balram and Diane Kowlessar exchanged marriage vows recently. A Hindu wedding ceremony was conducted on Saturday, August 5 at a backyard wedding in Markham.The weather cooperated with them as the storms ceased on the morning to allow the wedding to take place under the tents. This was followed by a Christian wedding the next day at St Phillips on the Hill church in Markham. An elaborate reception was held at the Scarborough Convention Centre later in the day. Families and friends from Canada, USA and Guyana were there to wish them well. The dance floor was always full as the DJ pumped out popular and tantalizing tunes to the enjoyment of the guests who stayed on to the very end. (Adit Kumar photo)

Do you know any South Asian heart
attack or stroke survivors?
If so, please ask them to join Heart & Stroke’s South Asian Survivor Network!

At Heart & Stroke, we want to increase our knowledge and understanding of stroke and heart disease recovery and be better informed of our future direction in the creation of recovery-based resources, programs and services for our heart disease and stroke survivors. In order for us to be survivor-centric – we will soon begin first phase of engagement with South Asian survivors and their care givers/partners.
While survivors face many barriers and challenges in coping with the disease and better managing their lives after a heart attack or stroke – we are interested in hearing their stories and wanting to confirm what the literature is telling us: that the psychosocial support an individual receives is co-related to their ability to recover and self-manage their condition.
For this we need your help! We need you to connect us to South Asian survivors and their care-givers/partners in your communities and have them join our South Asian Survivor Network and have them participate in one of our survivor focus groups to be held in the GTA this summer. Results from these focus groups will be shared with all of you and also help inform Heart & Stroke’s Promote Recovery Strategy.
Please help us recruit South Asian heart disease and stroke survivors and their care givers/partners to start engaging them on this important dialogue.
YOU connecting us to them would take us a step forward in understanding and listening to what OUR SURVIVORS truly need and help them RECOVER and self-manage their health!
Contact: FIRDAUS ALI,
South Asian Cultural Specialist, Ontario, Heart & Stroke
C: 416-629-1689 firdaus.ali@heartandstroke.ca

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