Apologies to Prof Bartholomew

THE EDITOR: On Sunday October 3, 2004 an article was carried in the Sunday Newsday with the headline, “HIV/AIDS Vaccine Trials flop in Trinidad and Tobago.” This view was attributed to Ms Ann Marie DeFour, who was named as a Health Consultant and Co-ordinator of the National AIDS Co-ordinating Committee.

Neither of these designations is correct, as I am the Communications Co-ordinator of the National AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health.
My statement at the meeting of the Rotary Club of San Juan was never meant to embarrass or pass judgment on the very good work of Professor Courtenay Bartholomew and his team of professionals. I would therefore like to express my profound regret and apologise to the Professor for any distress or embarrassment, which may have resulted from this article.

ANN MARIE DeFOUR
Communications
Co-ordinator
National AIDS Programme

Editor’s Note: The statement made by Ms Ann Marie DeFour was tape-recorded by the Newsday representative at the Rotary Meeting and the report that appeared in the Sunday Newsday is an accurate account of what Ms DeFour said.