Teresa Lynch is walking in her father’s footsteps along the path he once took as a councillor, serving the people of Cocoyea/Tarouba in San Fernando.

“You eh see Lynch daughter is a councillor now?” is the remark of many, proud to see Leslie Lynch’s daughter taking up the mantle as a local politician, under the People’s National Movement (PNM), for the district on the San Fernando City Corporation.

Yet Teresa, who takes part in hardcore fitness challenges, has a passion for sewing and an unusual love for numbers, has her own, unique style.

“I’ve been involved in politics since I was nineyears- old because of my dad,” Teresa, 29, says of her father who was a councillor for Cocoyea/ Tarouba for 14 years before leaving politics two local government elections ago.

“He would have opened the doors for me to get into politics, to hear the political talk, the arguments, the banter. And when I got older, I was on Rondell Donawa’s (former councillor) campaign trail for a few walk-abouts, keeping my eyes open on the party and politics on the whole.” When asked just how high her political aspirations go, Teresa, speaking at her campaign office, laughed mischievously.

“For now, I am just focused on being a good councillor.” Teresa won with 1,308 votes against her opponent’s 1,014 in a district with 6,250 registered voters. The district’s voter turn-turn out was consistent with the 34 percent turn-out for the entire election. Many have interpreted the low turn-out as a sign of a population grown weary of its politicians and their parties. Teresa hesitated to agree.

“The real question we have to ask is: What does the low voter turnout really mean?” Her eyes lit up as she considered the numbers. “Local government has always had a low turn-out.

In an area that may have expected 700 voters, you have 100 voters. What is that? This is why we need data. So that we could actually find out what are the issues behind the low turn-out for election.” Teresa’s love for research is seen in her choice of study. After Mon Repos RC Primary School, she attended the then Pleasantville Junior and Senior Comprehensives, and later pursued an undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

“We speak very much about diversification, but we have to first diversify our minds. As a guidance counsellor I see it all the time. The first thing you hear is ‘I want to be a doctor’, ‘I want to be a lawyer’.

Very rarely you might hear something strange, a unique field that is coming up.” Her studies landed her a job in the Ministry of Social Development.

“While I was at the Ministry of Social Development, I volunteered with Beverley King, at Com-Talk International, who does work with HIV/AIDS awareness. She invited me to a workshop on nutrition and HIV/ AIDS.” Inspired by this experience, three years after graduating, Teresa entered academia again to pursue a post-graduate diploma in Management of the HIV Infection at UWI.

According to Jacinta Bailey-Sobers, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, in a presentation at the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit Health and Knowledge Fair last week, 11,000 people are estimated to have the virus in Trinidad and Tobago. If given the resources, Teresa would like to research whether there is any link between discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS and the country’s high number of cases to present solutions.

However, as is the case for many GATE-funded university graduates, Teresa has not been able to find a job in direct line with her post-graduate diploma, but has converted her studies into service as a Ministry of Education guidance counsellor at Siparia East Secondary School.

Now, she will do so in politics.

“If you want to shed 10 pounds, join a campaign trail,” said Teresa, “It is the easiest weight loss plan you can invest in.” This from a woman who you could find swinging on monkey bars and crawling through mud in the next Hardcore challenge near you She has participated in three challenges so far and only missed this year’s UWI Marathon because of her campaign. As she nudges closer to 30, Teresa plans to ignore her creaky knees and keep going, for the sake of her health and her political service.

Teresa’s first stint on the political scene comes at an interesting time.

The PNM preached autonomy and giving more power to regional corporations, full-time salaries for full-time work from councillors and aldermen, and expanding the Integrity of Public Life Act to include councillors so as to match their increased power with increased accountability, as councillors will have easier access to tax-payer’s dollars.

“It is not so much about more responsibility, but much more autonomy over the area and getting the job done. As it is now, councillors can say they want to do ‘this’ to benefit the community, but they still do not have the final say because it has to go through a lot of red tape,” said Teresa She believes autonomy would go a long way in effecting change, especially in a time of economic decline with few signs of recovery.

“Right now, the requirement is for us to be resourceful, to not only depend on the corporation but on other external bodies like businesses in the community to see how we could fill in those gaps to help the community.” She dubbed herself a “10 am Mass person” and attributes some of her drive and purposefulness to her Catholic faith. She regretted not attending Mass as much during her campaign but said, thankfully, there is always the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). Teresa’s focus for the next three years would be on the youth in her community.

“I am looking at setting up homework centres in the community.

But you can’t have plans for youth with nowhere to put them.

Tarouba is expected to get their community centre soon, but even if we have to start with a tent, we will start somewhere.” Teresa urges young people to stop seeing local government elections as unimportant and wants more of them to offer themselves for service in their communities.

“It is not only about the PNM and the UNC.

Very often we blame the party, but it is up to us too. It would be nice for people to look at the call to service and ask ‘why not me?’” During the interview, Teresa’s nine-year-old son knocked on the door and entered the room. “Excuse me, so sorry for interrupting, but mummy may I go by my friend to play?” he asked. At his mother’s side during the campaign, at the same age she was when she accompanied her father, perhaps he will answer the call to service in the next 20 years himself.

The matter was decided by the High Court virtually on the eve of the November 28 local government election which ruled that 28-year-old Adrian Ali could contest the election as the candidate for the United National Congress (UNC). Ali eventually won the district by an overwhelming margin securing 3,114 votes as compared to the PNM which secured 288 votes while the ILP received 111 votes.

For the new councillor- elect, the experience did not sway him from his chosen path but only served to make him tougher, a trait engrained into him from an early age when, at the age of four, his parents separated and he was sent to live with his paternal grandparents.

It is his grandmother, Jaitoon Ali, 77, whom he credits for nurturing his determination and stamina to achieve his goals.

“All my life, my grandmother was in charge of sending me to school, primary school, Charlieville ASJA Primary School and ASJA Boys’ College, Charlieville,” he told Sunday Newsday during an interview at the home of a supporter at Marchin Road, Charlieville.

“I went to San Fernando Technical Institute after CSEC examinations and studied process plant operation, and worked at a construction company for six months and after realising that I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life, I decided to go and do CAPE.

I did CAPE at ASJA Girls’ College in Charlieville.

I was one of the four boys they selected for the CAPE there and that was the first and last time that boys were taken in at ASJA Girls’ College,” he said with a laugh as he reminisced about his younger days.

He studied geography, maths, and biology at CAPE.

“I got support from both grandparents and after my grandfather died, whilst I was doing CAPE, a good friend lent me some money to buy a car.

“I bought a Sunny, paid $10,000 for it and I used to work taxi while in CAPE so that took the strain off my grandmother,” he said.

Asked whether his grandmother supported him in politics, Ali said, “yes, she like she politics and was so happy to see her grandson get into politics with all the drama that was going on, she would say ‘stay strong’ and she make plenty ‘dua’ (prayers) for me.” Ali enrolled in UWI where he pursued a double major in geography and environmental and resources management where life also took an unexpected turn as he got married in 2009 to Khadijah, 27, whom he met while studying for the CAPE examinations at ASJA Girls’ College.

“My wife has supported me and is supporting me all now, she has sacrificed a lot for the past two months,” he said.

Ali and his wife have a son, Aayan, who will turn one in January.

“They have sacrificed so much for me even before the politics with cricket so it is a lot,” he said. Ali, a wicket-keeper/ batsman, was captain of UWI cricket team and played two inter-campus tournaments, winning a T20 tournament in Barbados during his tenure.

And it was while at UWI that he signed up with the Teaching Service Commission and, after graduation, returned to ASJA Boys’ College in 2015 where he taught Geography and Social Studies. He also taught at Point Fortin East Secondary in 2016.

Asked why he made the move from teacher to politician, Ali said, “even before thinking about getting into politics I used to be involved in the community, especially this community.

“I am known for hosting community cricket tournaments and Eid, Divali and Christmas programmes.

“In order to make a bigger difference in the community you have to be in a position where you are able to make that difference and that was the reason for joining the politics.” “As a councillor, you have to make a difference because if you don’t and go back to the people after three years, they going to run you for sure, the major complaint from people is make sure this in not the last time we going and see you, if you know you can’t even do something in the area then don’t run for councillor,” he said.

Asked how he felt about the ILP case, he said, “It was not expected because I have known Simeon (Mahabir, ILP candidate) for a long time. We both went to the same primary school.” And about his plans for the district, he said the construction of a community centre was needed as well as programmes to encourage entrepreneurship in the present economic climate.

He said sporting activities as well as infrastructural upgrade and the creation of a neighbourhood watch group as a deterrent to criminal activity also need to be dealt with.

Asked where he got his motivation, he thought for a while before responding, “I would say I get my motivation from my grandmother because she does everything for me.” “You need to set yourself goals and you need to work towards achieving the goals, not everyone is born with a golden spoon, so whatever you want you have to try and work as hard as possible for it and hard work always pays off.

That is what I know for sure.”

On Friday, the Elections and Boundaries Commission released the official results of the election stating that the UNC won 180,758 votes to the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) 174,754 votes.

Lee said the UNC gained more support compared to the last local government election in 2013, increasing their votes by 48 percent, while the PNM slipped by eight or nine percent.

However, speaking to members of the media after an HDC Housing key distribution ceremony at the Government Campus Plaza in Port-of-Spain yesterday, PNM Public Relations Officer, Stuart Young, dismissed the achievement, saying the UNC simply gained Independent Liberal Party (ILP) supporters. “What you have to remember is that, when we look to the 2013 figures, you’re dealing with a third party. You’re dealing with ILP. What it seems has happen is it gained the majority of the ILP voter base. But what we in the PNM think is significant for us is when we look at it, we managed still to hold on to those who voted for us in 2013,” he said.

Young also said while the PNM and UNC tied 4 – 4 in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, the PNM won the popular vote in that district.

Lee added that in the six corporations the party retained, there was a “higher than normal” voter turnout while voter turnout in the PNM-controlled corporations was much lower. “One has to ask, are the people of the PNM controlled corporations they dissatisfied with their own government? I believe it shows that people are dissatisfied with how the PNM has been running this country for the past 15 months,” he said.

Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, political scientist and University of the West Indies lecturer, had similar thoughts.

He said the low voter turnout of 34.34 percent showed that the country’s political parties have a lot of work to do. “The voter turnout is an indictment against all the parties who contested, clearly telling them that they are not dealing with the issues that people are really concerned about,” he said.

Ragoonath believes the PNM’s performance, particularly in the Diego Martin, Port-of-Spain and San Juan/Laventille areas, “left a lot to be desired”. He noted that less than 25 percent of voters came out in those PNM-controlled areas and they voted for both the PNM and UNC. This, he said, showed that “something is drastically wrong in those districts” and that people were looking for good governance.

“I believe the message that the PNM was giving was still focussed on trying to suggest that the previous administration was corrupt and should not be given a chance rather than the real local government issues,” he said.

He added that the low turn out, and the middle class and public sector workers not voting for PNM, could be considered the “riot” that Finance Minister Colm Imbert said did not occur when he reduced gas subsidies.

However, political analyst Dr Winford James had another take on the results.

He told Sunday Newsday the results indicated that the election was “more or less a race-based stalemate” between the PNM and the UNC; that the country had reverted to a two-party nation; and that there was need for local government reform.

“The most interesting thing is that there is no third force. There is no party that so performed so as to give the impression that they could unseat either the PNM or UNC in terms of support. The other parties don’t come up to much. The score is negligible,” he said.

The occasion? Both were participating in an event at Heroes Square commemorating World Aids Day.

They took rapid HIV/AIDS tests together, live before the world.

We return once more to the issue if HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in order to praise both for using their celebrity for a worthy cause.

Many people are still unaware of how easy it is to get tested, the importance of getting tested as well as the robust treatment options now available.

“You can find out literally on the spot,” Rihanna told the BBC. “We just did it in the middle of Heroes Square in Barbados and we just want to show people how easy it is to get tested and how you should not be afraid of knowing your status.” “You should be afraid of not knowing,” Prince Harry chimed in. “And you should be afraid of not talking about it. There is a generational gap here and we need to smash through that. The younger generation coming through want to talk about it but there is still that stigma. So if us getting tested normalizes it and makes a difference, just even a small difference, then job well done.” In Trinidad and Tobago, according to the latest information released last week, there has been a significant decrease in the number of people being diagnosed annually with HIV/AIDS.

Less than 500 persons, down from 1000, are being diagnosed annually.

Right now there are about 11,000 people living with HIV. In 2012, there were 22,085 persons diagnosed with HIV, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services Jacinta Bailey-Sobers. But now is not the time to get complacent.

The Caribbean still has the second highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, after Sub-Sahara Africa.

One in three persons with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean do not know that they have it which can only result in its further spread, and undermine measures that have been put in place to end the epidemic.

“To end AIDS as a public health threat,” said Caribbean Public Health Agency Executive Director Dr James Hospedales last week, “our combined efforts are important. It is therefore critical for us to have a multi-sectoral approach involving community participation.” The community, he said, “must play its role in advocacy, the fight against stigma and discrimination, and support those affected and prevent others from being infected.

By strengthening community participation and working together we can end this epidemic.” He said that, “HIV/AIDS is not just a serious health issue in the Caribbean, it also impacts negatively on the economy and our social life. Let us all take the challenge to end AIDS.” There are encouraging signs. Trinidad and Tobago is well on its way to eliminating the transmission of HIV from mother to child, having had two or less cases over the past five years, according to PAHO/WHO local representative, Dr Bernadette Theodore- Gandi. But there is no reason why mother to child transmission cannot be eliminated completely.

It is important that everyone knows their HIV status and that persons ensure it is managed properly to prevent the spread of new infections.

Factors that can decrease someone’s chance of getting or transmitting HIV include HIV testing, HIV drugs for persons at high risk for HIV infection, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and the use of female and male condoms.

It is equally important for public officials and visible stakeholders to help fight stigma and discrimination in all sectors of life. They should follow the example set by Prince Harry and Rihanna.

(Concise Oxford). “Mainly common descent, history, language?” Not so. Still, there is hope that a common core of civic values would help make us “a community” – a multi-cultural society.

However, a look at how the fourteen regional corporations are now distributed between the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC) across the country, exposes a divided nation.

The largely urban-PNM and rural- UNC distribution, propped by ethnicity, helps confirm the electoral records. Are we moving forward or backward? Why? Or is it that our political structures should accommodate the ethnic-diversity rights assured by the Constitution, that is a pluralistic democracy; or is that ethnic attitudes should change towards having ethnically-integrated political structures, starting with political parties? The British-derived Constitution provides for a distrustful, divided society; that is a government facing an opposition. But the colonial plantation system threw in such a large amount of ethnic divisions, giving rise, for example, to what is today commonly called “racial politics.” In his 1955 “letting down my bucket” speech at Woodford Square, Dr Eric Williams said: “What is needed in Trinidad and Tobago is a climate in which each racial or religious group will feel relatively secure.” He followed this speech with “Massa Day Done” in 1961 at Woodford Square. At a later Independence Day speech, as Prime Minister, he pronounced: “Two races have been freed but a society has not been formed. It takes more than a National Anthem, a National Flag.” Anyhow, over one month ago, after one man killed another for allegedly making a racial remark against PM Dr Rowley, a newspaper asked for my comments. I recall my comments for a glimpse into race relations here.

The published comments (Guardian, Oct 30) were: “Race relations in this country have long existed in two worlds. One world, struggling to keep things together with exuberant optimism, comprises pretty “all ah we is one” speeches, self-praises and lavish displays of political correctness.

This is the virtual reality world, often mixed with inevitable hypocrisies.

The other world, the more realistic one, is a bruising, threatening one. This other world mainly operates underground here, social-media style for example, and filled with angry, latent prejudices which erupt at the slightest provocation. The racial undercurrents, inflamed by platform rhetoric during the last general elections have not yet died down and in fact will become even more vitriolic as the country heads towards the next general elections.” I added: “The society is becoming more severely competitive with various social groups feeling relatively deprived; and as public sector resources get diminished within our ethnically-divided political system, racial antagonisms would likely escalate.

Big dangers lie ahead.” Additionally, in terms of race relations, including the “roti war,” this column (Nov 27) commended calypsonian Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance) who, after winning TUCO’s presidency two Sundays ago, said, “TUCO expects to do some cutting while seeking to deliver a world class product with restricted budget, cognisant of the economic realities.” I then advised: “My civic interest here is not primarily in which Prime Minister spent more than the other.

Whether Eid, Divali, Emancipation or Christmas, stop such lavish, tax-dollared expenditures at this time. For those who wish them, let such occasions be more community- driven than politically-sponsored.

Some may disagree, but governments must have limits. Get back to basic needs. Let the donors and organisers themselves do such celebrations in their various districts.

After all, these religious or cultural occasions essentially rest on humility, simplicity, devout worship and thanksgiving. No doubt, this project began with good intentions.” I added: “There is no evidence that such expensive, lavish celebrations bring ethnic unity or national harmony.

On the contrary, there is quite often ethnic arousal of relative deprivation by one against the other. I say with respect and without malice, find less ostentatious, thrifty ways to celebrate and worship in this multi-racial society of worrisome contradictions, especially when there is no national cultural policy – assuming one is possible.” Thelocal government results call for caution in this divided “nation.”

Speaking yesterday in a telephone interview Ramroop said that “things are good” and “everybody settled down”. He reported that residents have received power, truck borne water, supplies and yesterday morning social services conduced assessments.

“They should be back to some level of normalcy next week, Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

Ramroop explained that then they will look at medium and long term and assist people who lost appliances like fridges and stoves. He said that there are still roads that need fixing and bridge repairs to be done. “All in all I am very pleased with the work of all the authorities,” he said.

Ramroop pointed out that they provided assistance within 72 hours while in other countries it takes weeks.

“I must commend the people of the area and all the authorities who came and gave assistance,” he added.

On Wednesday, torrential rainfall from the previous night and all day triggered massive flooding, sea swells and landslides trapping thousands who live in the communities. Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon in a media interview said that about 1,000 people were affected by the disaster which was caused by just two hours of rain.

Minister of Public Utilities Fitzgerald Hinds informed Sunday Newsday that by midnight Friday electricity was restored by the entire area; it had been restored up to Grande Riviere three days ago.

He said the Water and Sewerage Authority was still in the process of reconnecting all the lines and had established a base to provide truckborne water. He reported that by yesterday a bailey bridge should have installed and once completed they can restore lines to the other side and carry truck borne lines.

Defence Force Senior Public Affairs Officer Lt Cmdr Kirk Jean-Baptiste reported that the First Engineer battalion of the TT Regiment, other arms of Regiment and Air Guard are directly involved and continue to work alongside ODPM, Ministry of Works, Police Service, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, WASA and the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission.

“A combined effort,” he added.

He said the road works in conjunction with the Works Ministry and the regional corporation will continue until the situation is resolved. He pointed out that the movement of supplies continue and distribution remains with councillor and member of Parliament.

“We are doing our part to ensure relief is brought to everybody eventually,” he added.

Jean-Baptiste stressed however that it is a “heavy task”.

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Investigators also working on information that the contractor is allegedly involved in a thriving illicit operation involving not only the export of drugs to the United States including Miami but is also allegedly involved in money laundering.

Well placed sources told Sunday Newsday the man’s operation is so huge that he has been able to get the support from customs officers and members of the protective service and other persons, including politicians.

Yesterday the US$2 million remained locked in a vault at the Central Bank after it was counted by an official of the US Customs and Excise and the serial numbers from the currency recorded. That information has been sent to the US Treasury Department to ascertain when the money was printed and where it originated from.

According to a senior customs and excise source, the man’s operation was able to prosper because of his local connections and the source added that the contractor also has persons working for him in the United States. The suspect, who is based in North East Trinidad, is believed to have set up a local business as a front and information reaching Sunday Newsday is that the man’s assets is believed to be worth millions of dollars.

On Monday during the Local Government Elections he is reported to have funded the transportation for at least one of the political parties.

On November 22, police and customs officers led by Sgt Marcelle of the Financial Investigations Bureau (FIB) raided a Santa Cruz business- place and seized a hard drive as well as other documents as part of the ongoing investigation into the US$2 million seizure. Because the contractor was not there when the officers arrived at his home and business place relatives were advised that he should report to the FIB as soon as possible to be interviewed.

However checks by Sunday Newsday reveal that Sgt Marcelle indicated to the contractor that he was awaiting direction from his seniors before proceeding with the interview.

The contractor has been keeping a low profile and his business is now being run by his girlfriend who is also linked to a politician and a cricketer.

Customs and Excise officers as well as police sources indicated yesterday that although false documents were used for the container to arrive in this country they believe that an arrest is imminent.

On November 4, Customs and Excise searched a container at the Point Lisas Port and discovered blue crocus bags filled with US currency.

Officers of the Inter Agency Task Force transported the cash to the Customs and Excise Building at Ajax Street, Port-of-Spain where the money was guarded. Two Thursdays ago the cash was transferred to the Central Bank for safekeeping.

During the investigation, a San Fernando businessman was questioned and his home raided while the same team of officers also raided a house in the East and seized a quantity of documents.

His body already decomposing, crime scene investigators could not immediately determine if there were marks of violence but Anil’s death is being treated as a murder.

“He did not deserve this, my son did not deserve to die like this,” wept the the 49-year-old mother of nine.

Devika and her husband Sham, 54, found their son’s body at about 7 am yesterday in an area overgrown with bush not too far from his home in the village of Pranz Gardens. Reports indicate patches of hair were found near his body and relatives were able to identify the body as Anil’s because the right hand had no fingers, all five were severed due to an accident in 2006.

Anil, a crab-catcher, was last seen in the village of Pranz Gardens, Claxton Bay shortly after 8 pm on November 27. He had on a grey jeans and a black and blue stripe T-shirt. Last Tuesday, relatives reported him missing to the Couva Police Station.

Villagers lined the road as crime scene investigators removed Anil’s body.

Devika said Anil, also nicknamed “Punko”, was threatened by a group of men before he went missing. “He was frightened for his life and I saw it in his eyes every day. I just knew that someone was out to kill my baby, but I did not know who and I did not know for what,” Devika recalled.

The tearful mother said she tried many times to find out from her son “who was after him but he never told me who wanted to kill him.” Over a week ago several men armed with cutlasses arrived at the family’s home asking for Anil.

“They reached the gate and tried to get into the house, but I stopped them and allowed my son to hide under the bed. They said they wanted him dead,” she said. Devika said she did not sleep since her son’s disappearance.

“Every day I would go in the areas where he usually catches crab and look for him. This morning (yesterday) I woke up early after 6 am and I kept getting this feeling that my son was nearby, so I went with my husband in the bushes and there he was,” she said. “All I saw was his head to the top of the latrine and his slippers nearby. There was also patches of hair near to the latrine as if they shaved off his hair.

Who would do this?” Devika now fears the men would attack her family.

Sunday Newsday learnt that one day before his disappearance, Anil had an altercation with a resident in the village which some say may be linked to his death. An autopsy is expected to be performed at the Forensic Science Centre, St James yesterday while the Homicide Investigations Bureau Region III probes the murder.

Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit of the Ministry of Health, Dr Ayanna Sebro, pointed out that fact last Friday at the weekly press conference of the Health Ministry in Port-of- Spain.

According to Sebro, the reduction of vertical transmission from mother to child to two out of every 100 babies born to HIV-positive mothers was a national goal. Additionally, she said that with the help of the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the country has moved from 13 testing sites to 64.

Sebro said, “For the years 2008 to 2015, the ministry reported a decline of approximately of 50 percent in the number of new cases reported dropping from 1,453 to 710.

We continuously have had data strengthening activity and scale-up of access to testing in this period. We have moved from 13 testing sites to 64 testing sites from which we documented approximately 73,740 tests in 2015 as compared to 27, 567 tests in 2008.” Regarding the national goal for reducing the spread of HIV/ AIDS from mother to child, she said the “country has maintained a less than two percent transmission rate for the past five years within the public sector.” Sebro noted, too, that while the system continues to have challenges, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the countries in the region that funds its own anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and has two viral load machines whereas some countries have none.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said he intends to make better use of the funding available through the United States’ President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to advance the country’s capacity to combat the virus. In addition, Deyalsingh said through the use of funds available through PEPFAR, the country has a better chance of reaching the 90-90-90 goal set by UN/AIDS.

He said, “Another target to be achieved is that of 2020, where by 2020, it is hoped that 90 percent of any country’s known population of HIV/AIDS persons – so if a country has 100 people known to have the virus – 90 per cent of those people should know their status.

“Of those 90 percent who know their status, 90 percent of those people by 2020 should be on anti-retroviral drugs. So 90 percent should know their status, 90 percent should be on ARV, and of those 90 percent who are on ARV, 90 percent of those should have their viral load at a level where they can be considered HIV free.”

Police report state that at about 2 pm, the pedestrian, 30, from Longdenville in Chaguanas, was standing on the roadside at Dow Village, California, where three armed men accosted him.

The report added that the gunmen robbed him of cash, a cellular phone and personal items, together valued $3,500. The victim then ran off and the gunmen fired five shots in his direction.

Luckily he escaped unhurt and the gunmen ran off in the opposite direction.

A report was made to the Couva Police Station and PCs Pierre and Basdeo responded.

With the assistance of estate police from the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC), the officers combed the California area.

Minutes later they found the suspect, of Dow Village, hiding in a warehouse belonging to TTEC in California.

They also recovered a firearm with ammunition.

None of the stolen items were recovered.

Once charged, he will appear before a Couva magistrate.

Up to late yesterday, police continued their search for the two accomplices.

Investigations are continuing.