Lopez, who resides in the United States, said Gillian was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, after suffering a seizure. He said she was an asthmatic who has had several seizures before.

Lopez said she was taken to the hospital by her elder sister, Giselle. However, doctors said while making their rounds at about 4 am the next day, they noticed that her bed was empty.

Three louvres had been removed from the window in her room.

Lopez said when he was informed about his daughter’s disappearance, he immediately booked a flight and came back to Trinidad.

“This is the second time she has run away from home. She lives with her mother and sister at Casaripe Drive, La Platta Gardens, Valencia. She called several times saying that she was coming home. The last time she called was on Saturday and said she was coming home, but up to now, we have not seen her. I don’t know where she is or who she is with,” Lopez said.

Lopez said Gillian has been a bit of a problem child, talking back to her mother and being disobedient.

Anyone with information on Gillian’s whereabouts can contact Lopez at 470-8785 of contact the St Joseph Police Station.

However, the release added, because of existing borderline La Ni?a influences, this could be a ‘milder’ Dry Season than the norm.

The Met Office said that conditions such as reduced rainfall, prevalence of westerly upper-level winds and a North Atlantic Sub-Tropical High press system – which are all the criteria necessary for declaration of a Dry Season – have been met and are firmly entrenched.

The outlook for the 2017 Dry Season, the release stated, indicates impactful drying will occur most likely in late February through to March, with odds that are highest for near average rainfall totals for the season overall.

The TTMS expects the latter half of February, all of March and most of April to be particularly hot and dry with hotter than average daytime and nighttime temperatures.

As a result, there are very high odds for a large number of hot days (temperature greater than 34.00C) and relatively long periods of consecutive dry days, but especially so, during the heat season February to April. As a consequence, it is very likely that these months will produce hot spell conditions in the country.

The country can expect to see rainfall episodes occurring but not with the frequency and quantity of the transition months. Likely impacts of the 2017 Dry Season Include: reduction in ground water recharge, surface water flows and rain-fed water availability; increase in surface dryness which can lead to increase in dusty conditions; Increased browning of weeds, grass, bush and some forest species as the season progresses; drier and hotter conditions will increase bush and forest fire potential during the season; drier conditions can increase the need to collect and store water in containers which can increase breeding areas for mosquitoes.

Drier conditions have the potential to affect water reservoirs negatively which can impact the current tourism and Carnival seasons; hotter and drier conditions increase the chance for heat and water stress for crops, pastures and livestock; drier and warmer conditions tend to favour better quality in some fruits and some outdoor activities; stronger low level winds increase the potential for rough seas which can affect sea bathing and marine activities.

As such, the Met Office advised, citizens must conserve, store and manage water in a sustainable manner and take measures to reduce the effects of prolonged exposure to sunshine and dusty conditions.

It is also “highly recommended”, the release added, for the public to refrain from burning rubbish in grassy or forested areas during the Dry Season.

Relevant Agencies and Ministries are advised to take measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the current Dry Season.

“Two men riding around in a jeep is not patrol,” argued one angry resident who asked not to be identified. “What we want to see is foot patrol as two men in a jeep is a waste of time. They get friendly with the men and them. Is a war you come to face.” The camp which is housed in a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) apartment building is located a couple streets away from the spot where Lewis was gunned down.

The resident recalled that on Friday night Lewis was liming on “the block” – a police vehicle was parked in close proximity to the well known block.

Newsday was told that about four men came out the track with guns blazing.

He then gave this account: “When the (gun) men come out from the track and start firing, the police van drive off. Gunmen came from both sides and they (police) only returned when it was over.” The man accused the officers of failing to assist the wounded Lewis in getting medical attention.

“Man over him trying to lift him up to carry him to the hospital and the officers would not even lift a finger. Is almost like if is a joke to them,” he said.

“If they had helped, he might have been alive today.” Lewis was shot in his back as he tried to escape gunmen and succumbed to his wounds in the arms of his uncle while on the way to the Chaguanas Health Facility.

The resident warned that if law enforcement officers don’t step up their game in the community, the same gunmen they are friendly with will turn their guns on them.

“They are out of control. Is “Muslims” they (police) dealing with.” Another eyewitness who spoke to Newsday said he narrowly missed being shot and was scared to go to work on Saturday.

When Newsday spoke to Lewis’ mother on Saturday, she had a different view about the work being done by the officers saying that they were doing their best in the crime ridden community.

She however felt that it was left on the young men to change their lifestyle. She said her son had been warned about hanging out on the dangerous blocks in the community.

Officers of the Central Division, up to yesterday, continued the hunt for Lewis’ killers. Police are also searching for the “hit man” who shot and killed Barrackpore doubles vendor / wrecking service owner Ramesh “Raj” Jacob on Saturday. At about 6 am, the 41 year-old father of two was killed while setting up his doubles stall outside the entrance of the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain in Couva where he has peddled his trade for the past 17 years. His wife Halima and employees who were present at the time escaped injuries. Investigators believe his death was a “hit” as nothing was taken from him.

It was reported that a gunman alighted from a car and walked up to him shot him in the head and back before escaping in the waiting vehicle.

Addressing a media briefing last week at the conference room of the Siparia Market, Ramadharsingh, a former Social Development Minister, noted that the elderly population is projected to reach some 17.7 percent in 2025 and expected to further increase to 30.1 percent in 2050, with persons living longer due to strides in the medical arena.

“Loneliness is a major issue for the elderly in Trinidad and Tobago with 33 percent of the surveyed group felt lonely despite only 16 percent living alone.”

The campus, located on Pierre Connector Road, was allocated 35 acres of land for construction by the former government under the leadership of former Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister, Fazal Karim, with a budget of $157.7 million in 2012. NIPDEC was made the project manager for the construction of the campus, and its Chief Executive Officer, David Benjamin, was happy to announce on Thursday last that the final cost came up to $145.5 million.

Benjamin credited the under budget construction to the early disbursement of funds by the government and the careful planning by contractor, NH International.

According to Benjamin, NH International was chosen out of eight contractors who tendered for the project. NH International, in collaboration with Fojo Design and Development Limited, designed, built, and outfitted the three storey campus that occupies 65,000 square feet with 25 acres of land surrounding for further expansion by the campus.

Construction began in June, 2014, and was completed in July of 2016, becoming COSTAATT’s new main campus, this time without a monthly rent bill.

President of COSTAATT, Dr Gillian Paul, remarked that “This is a milestone achievement for those of us who believe that COSTAATT is destined to be a great national institution,” said Paul. Though the North American community college model upon which COSTAAT is based was foreign to the country, “It has taken root because it is actually precisely the type of tertiary institution that Trinidad and Tobago needed to expand access in a purposeful way that would allow those who had been marginalised, not able to benefit, not for reasons of aptitude or potential — but circumstance, finance, the secondary school they were in, the rural community they were in — never to realise their potential.” In his feature address, Minister in the Ministry of Education, Dr Lovell Francis, told a story of growing up as a “bright boy” in Moruga around friends who were not conventionally “bright.” These friends went on to become engineers and software designers, earning salaries much larger than his as a former lecturer at the University of the West Indies.

Vaccinations are being given on Tuesdays and Fridays.

At a press conference held last week at the Insect Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, Cunupia, Deyalsingh said cases of influenza were down last year.

This was due largely, he said, to about 100,000 flu vaccines being administered during the last flu season.

The flu season ended in May 2016.

The ministry’s flu vaccination drive has also gone into the fields starting at the Tunapuna Market last Friday.

Other areas targeted are the Chaguanas Market, Gulf City Mall, City Gate, and Harris Promenade.

Overseas visitors coming to Carnival 2017 are also advised to get flu shots before they arrive.

Having learnt from the 2015 experience when a number of persons died due to the H1N1influenza, Deyalsingh said, the ministry implemented “a much more robust vaccination” drive starting in October 2016.

“Because we have been so successful and because no one has died and there is no screaming headline of ‘Yet another death due to H1N1,’ he said, “the response to the vaccination drive is not what it should be.” To date about 22,000 people have been vaccinated.

The vaccines must be used by May 2017 because it will expire at that time. The new batch of vaccines for whatever new strain of flu comes around will be available in September for the new year.

The flu vaccine is given annually.

During October and November 2016, Deyalsingh said that the focus of the vaccination programme was on the vulnerable population that included pregnant women, the elderly, those suffering from chronic diseases and children.

“The vaccination drive is now open to everyone, regardless of age or health status,” he said adding “I want to go through this flu season with no deaths.”

In an email which announced the new blog, Rambarran said it is, “a space to share ideas for a better world through more enlightened economic policy. “ Rambarran said, “Posts are written in a simple style, convey alternative viewpoints to policymakers, and are usually delivered once weekly.” Central Banking, public finance, foreign exchange (forex) market and innovative financing for development are the categories which Rambarran deals with on his blog.

In a post about forex, Rambarran said Prime Minister Dr.Keith Rowley blamed “my ‘tinkering’ with the Central Bank’s foreign exchange distribution system for the creation of a US dollar black market and for the country living in the shadow of foreign exchange shortages,” when he responded to a question from the Opposition in the House of Representatives on December 7, 2016.

In his response, Rowley expressed confidence that arrangements are in place to ensure that small, medium and large businesses in the country are able to access the foreign exchange that they require.

The Prime Minister said, “We will still expect that the arrangements in place will permit small medium and large businesses to survive within the context of our circumstances.” Rowley said regardless of the size of the users of foreign exchange, “this conversation has to be rooted in the fact that there has to be an understanding that foreign exchange in TT is not at the level that it used to be.” The Prime Minister said people would be burying their heads in the sand if they did not accept that foreign exchange is being, “bought and sold outside of the banks in TT.” He attributed this to a tinkering in April 2014 under the then People’s Partnership (PP) government, “with the distribution of foreign exchange that first took us down the road to the creation of a black market in this country.” According to Rambarran, “The existing foreign exchange distribution system encourages inequality because it inherently gives undue preference to banks based on size.” He claimed, “The changes I made in April 2014 to the distribution system sought to make US dollars more widely accessible, both across banks and across their customers.” In December 2015, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said Rambarran was free to challenge his dismissal as governor in court if he wished.

In a statement in December 2015, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said, “The Cabinet’s decision was based primarily on legal advice from both internal and external counsel, including senior counsel, who advised that the disclosure by the former Governor of the names of the largest users of foreign exchange in Trinidad and Tobago and the amounts of foreign exchange that they used was a breach of section 56 of the Central Bank Act and section 8 of the Financial Institutions Act.” Section 56 of the Central Bank Act deals with preserving the secrecy of matters related to the affairs of the Bank.

Any member of the Bank who breaches this section is liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine of $6,000 and to imprisonment for two years.

He said the occasion recalls the historical raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788, to found the colony and the modern- day country of Australia.

“This day has grown into a celebration of the resilience and diversity of the Australian people.

Its rich history, remarkable achievements specifically in the areas of infrastructure, music, art, sports, science, invention and exploration.” Moses said that TT and Australia, as former British colonies, have built on a common heritage to develop a robust bilateral relationship and collaborate in multilateral forums.

“The state of bilateral relations remains on a sound footing.” He said TT is encouraged by Australia’s economic strength, stability and prosperity.

Moses hailed Australia’s support in several areas to aid TT’s development, including BHP Billiton which contributes to training and using local suppliers and employees in TT’s energy sector.

“Trinidad and Tobago has benefitted from technical cooperation with Australia in the areas of trade and investment, scholarships and grants, the Australia Awards Initiative, and Direct Aid Programme geared towards promoting sustainable development and culture,” Moses said.

The finalists, in alphabetical order are:
PIONEERS (5 – 10 yrs)
Ajanae King Fraser
Anna Taylor
Jayda Celestine
Je’nae Jones
Jewel Mitchell
Naomi Waldrop
Olu Holder
Sheniya Joseph
Terry Perez
Zakiya Grant

JEWELS (11 – 14 yrs)
Adana Dardaine
Caleb Hinds
Duane Ta’zyah
O’Connor Jaden
Francois Jeremiah
James Joshua Hinds
Kurlise Bentham
Mitchila Williams
Monique Lively
Monique Mitchell
N’Janela Duncan-Regis
Naomi Sinnette
Rachel Alleyne-Noriega
Troyann Nestor

JUNIORS/PATHFINDERS (15 – 18 yrs)
Andell Procope
Caryn Mc Carthy
Cassia Chambers
Catherine Chandler
Chelister Rochford
Denisia Martimbor
Desle Julien
Jael Black
Kevan Calliste
Melina Smith
Mickyle Calliste
Nicholas Lucas
Nkosi Millar
Renaldo Alleyne-Noriega
Reshawn Goodridge
Rowmilia Nedd
Shernifa Gibbs
Takiyah Nurse
Tsahai Corbin

Over the past few days, a photo has been circulating on What’s App with the caption, “speed cameras by El Socorro working now and they stopping you by Maritime and giving ticket.” Responding to Newsday’s questions on Friday, the Ministry of Works and Transport said it “refutes reports on the implementation of Spot Speed Camera Enforcement (SSCE) in Trinidad and Tobago.”