Latest: Kidnap victim Yves Ayoung Chee who was abducted last Thursday was released in the Port-of-Spain area around 6.30 pm yesterday. No ransom was paid. Police said they could not give further details because Ayoung Chee had to be interviewed.

In response to a direct question on whether he would be an aspirant to the position of political leader, St Joseph MP Gerald Yetming said yesterday that he was willing to play any part in the rebuilding of the UNC. He was not prepared to explain or clarify that statement. He agreed with statements attributed to his leader, Basdeo Panday that “predators” may want to take the UNC leadership, if there is a political vacuum. Yetming has already gone on record as saying that Ramesh Lawrence-Maharaj is not an alternative. But Yetming stated that this was where the Executive came in. “That is what I meant when I said that the party had to strategise — in order to prevent predators and in order to ensure that viable and successful candidates for leadership were mounted. It is understood that many of the MPs in the party who have been rushing to Panday’s defence, are in fact of the same view as Yetming on the leadership question. Meanwhile veteran politician John Humphrey said yesterday that the problem within the UNC was not the leader, but the leadership. “Our politics focuses too much on the leader…And the party (UNC) has remained for too long as a one man show. If Mr Panday would make room for more deputies…But that is not happening,” Humphrey stated. He recalled that he recommended two years ago that the party have three deputies and that at least one be a woman and one be a non-Indian “to reflect the reality of the society”.  But I was ignored,” he stated..

Stressing that the problem was not the leader, but the way in which the leader dominated the politics of the party (and in the case of the Prime Minister, the politics of the country and government), Humphrey said when a party loses an election, you have a lot of people to blame. Though, he conceded, the leader does have a role in this. But, he stressed that UNC needed new leadership (Executive) and it needed constitution reform. Saying that the present constitution of the UNC was “Ramesh’s” (Lawrence Maharaj) constitution, Hum-phrey said the PNM had a better constitution. Asked whether the party was in trouble, Humphrey said any party that is in the minority is in trouble. But was there a leadership problem?  Humphrey res-ponded with a question: “Why do you depend on one man?” He  said the UNC needed an effective Executive. However he disagreed with Yetming’s approach, saying that the St Joseph MP should put his hat in the ring if he is interested in serving as political leader.  “Yetming had his views and those are the views of his circle of friends but this is not held by the majority. If Mr Yetming thinks Mr Panday should go, why doesn’t he offer himself as leader?” Humphrey stated, adding: “(Kelvin) Ramnath did it. Though I don’t think Mr Panday was prepared to tolerate a challenge then. He might be more open to it now…(Let Yetming present himself) And let the members decide and the membership, which has one-man, one-vote will decide,” Humphrey stated.

But, he stressed, until Panday steps down or is voted out, he was the leader. And therefore, Yetming was “in error.. because all he is doing (now) is dividing the party. It means Mr Panday can’t rely on him in the Parliament,” Humphrey stated. Humphrey stated however that he had a sense of futility about the politics of Trinidad and Tobago. “The country is in trouble. If Mr Manning was truly interested in national unity and if Mr Panday was truly interested in national unity, they would have gotten together. But each one of them is fighting for dominance because of the power-centricity of this political system. There is no room for cooperation,” he said. Saying that he was seeing no hope from either the PNM or the UNC camp, Humphrey stated: “What we were able to put together in 1986 — the ONR, ULF, Tapia and DAC — the country now yearns for…And I don’t see any way of achieving it again,” he said. Humphrey lamented that  nobody was dealing with the fundamental problems of the country. The PNM was not solving the problem of poverty and of mobilising the economic resources to create jobs, he said. “And youth can’t wait on Manning’s promises,” he said. He added that unless “they” (the politicians)  “found a formula” for uniting the people and dealing with the fundamental problem of poverty, “1970 would revisit us, but this time it will be very violent”.

Former Speaker and former ULF stalwart, Nizam Mohammed said he was not surprised by what was happening in the UNC. He said in the midst of the series of serious disappointments that the UNC has been experiencing, it was expected that there would be these convulsions until it eventually finds some common ground to see whether it can effectively challenge the present government. He did not want to venture an opinion on whether the party needed to find  a new leader. “I am so far removed…I can’t say whether he (Panday) should or shouldn’t (go), whether he is the problem  or not,” Mohammed said. Asked whether the UNC had been performing creditably as an Opposition, Mohammed said the disappointments the party suffered were being reflected in the way that the party was approaching the whole exercise of Opposition. “I felt that much more can be done (by the Opposition),” he said. Asked whether Panday would recover from this latest challenge, Mohammed laughed and said: “He has rallied so many out in the past, I won’t be surprised if he does.”

NASH SOOKOO, a 24-year-old  Special Branch constable was killed instantly when the car he was driving crashed into a truck owned by Pres-T-Con Limited at the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of Solo factory. Reports revealed that around 4.30 am, Sookoo, 24, of Mowlah Street, Preysal was driving his Honda Civic car PBG 4509, when he lost control and crashed into the truck. Two other occupants of the car Azard Ali, 30, and Nishal Aberdeen, 25, also of Mowlah Street, Preysal suffered injuries. Police sources revealed that Sookoo was pinned to the mangled wreck of the car and fire officers were called out to remove his body. It took fire officers more than 45 minutes to remove the bloodied body of the police officer from the car and a waiting hearse took the body to the Port-of-Spain General hospital. Checks with the Port-of-Spain General Hospital late yesterday revealed that the two occupants of Sookoo’s car were resting in stable condition. The death of constable Sookoo caused widespread grief among his colleagues at Special Branch.

ACP Frank Diaz who is in charge of Special Branch went to his office yesterday along with other officers and contacted the grieving relatives. ACP Diaz told Sunday Newsday that Sookoo worked in the office at Special Branch and was an excellent officer. He said that Sookoo joined the branch three years ago and was a favourite with his colleagues. “I knew him well and when I learnt of the death,  I was in a state of shock because Sookoo worked on Friday and I saw him in the office,” said ACP Diaz. He told Sunday Newsday that officers will be contacting the family of Sookoo and they will be consulted on whether they would want a military funeral. ACP Diaz said that he intended to visit the Preysal home of the Sookoo family and extend his sympathy. The death of PC Sookoo brought road fatalities for the year to 108. ACP Deochand Gosein, the head of Mobile in the police service expressed regret at the death of the young officer, but expressed concern over the total ignorance of drivers to adhere to speed limits and road regulations.

He added that the road deaths in the country could be decreased if motorists exercise more caution on the roadways. Sunday Newsday learned that PC Sookoo was seen liming in Chaguaramas on Friday night and was returning when he met his death. At the Preysal home of Sookoo, relatives expressed shock and sadness over the death. They claimed that Sookoo loved to party but was respected in the community of Preysal. According to relatives, on learning of the death they all went into mourning because they considered him to be a role model and a person with a bright future. They claimed that he loved to play football and was dedicated to his work. His neighbours also claimed that he was loved in the community and was considered “everyone’s son.” The parents of the dead constable were not at home when Sunday Newsday visited the family yesterday.

A 35-year-old Morvant taxi driver was killed on Friday evening while plying his taxi at Crichlow Trace, Morvant. Carlton “Bald Head” Joseph, of  Mon Repos Road, Morvant was gunned down by unknown assailants in what police up to this point, are calling a simple robbery. At approximately 9.45 on Friday night, residents of Crichlow Trace reportedly heard a single gunshot, then saw a white B-13 Sentra vehicle speed up Crichlow Trace and on to Crichlow Hill. The concerned residents contacted the Morvant police station. A swarm of North East Division Task Force officers donning tactical wear arrived on the scene at approximately 10.05, clearing the crowd of concerned onlookers. Police believe that the assailants were attempting to steal the car when Joseph was forced to alight the vehicle and was subsequently shot once in the mouth by one of the bandits.

Residents from nearby houses peered through windows and over fences to observe as Supt Waldron Bishop, Ag Insp Coa, Sgt Keith Louison, among others commenced their investigation. DMO Dr Ruby Lue Chee Lip viewed the body and ordered it removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary.  An autopsy will be carried out tomorrow at the Forensic Sciences Centre. Joseph lived at his two storey home with twin and another brother. When Sunday Newsday visited the home none of his occupants were there. Residents of neighbouring houses informed Sunday Newsday that he was a, “cool fella who didn’t trouble nobody.” One Morvant taxi driver referred to him as, “just a mellow soldier hustling for a dollar like everybody else.” Up to late yesterday evening no suspects were held for the murder, however police are continuing investigations.

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning revealed that PNM Government Ministers have been bringing UNC stronghold constituencies “into the fold” since October 2002. Addressing thousands of supporters at yesterday’s PNM victory rally in Mayaro, the Prime Minister declared: “It must be our mission to attract to our fold, all the people of Trinidad and Tobago now. We are on a good road and if are able to keep that course, and to move only in the direction of integration then for TT the sky is the limit.” He then disclosed that PNM’s gains in UNC territory in the July 14 Local Government Elections were no overnight phenomenon. “Since the general elections (of October 2002) we have also allocated a Member of Parliament, a member of the Cabinet where necessary, where possible, to oversee each constituency in which there is not a PNM representative. We now have a PNM MP, Cabinet Minister in many instances, overseeing constituencies. Couva North, Couva South, Caroni East, Nariva. Our objective is to bring everybody into the fold and maximise the rate of development of our country,” Manning said.

The Prime Minister also said the PNM’s campaign “on a platform of multi-racialism” caused “significant sections” of the Indo-Trinidadian community to support the PNM in the July 14 polls. Manning gave the assurance that PNM Central and Local Government representatives “have the political will, the determination and are ready, willing and able to deliver what we said to you that we will provide if given the opportunity.” The Prime Minister told newly-elected PNM mayors, chairmen and councillors  “this success does not make you masters but chief servants of the people who elected you.” “Your attitude must be one of service and gratitude for the opportunity that they are putting in your care,” he advised them. Manning told PNM supporters there must be no gloating or recrimination in the aftermath of the elections. “On this occasion, the fifth election in five years, the people of TT have adjudged you right but it is never good enough to just be right. When you are right you have to also be generous,” he said.

Four men were placed on an ID parade by Sangre Grande police yesterday, after reports that a man was shot in the chest, head and right leg. Raweid Hossany, 24, of Wallenvale Road, Guaico, Sangre Grande had to be hospitalised after being treated for gunshot wounds. Police reports are that Hossany was liming with friends at a small shed on Baker Trace, Guaico when a group of about six men pounced on him and his friends, from nearby bushes. One of them whipped out a gun and fired shots, injuring Hossany. The men then fled the scene and Hossany was taken to the hospital. The matter was reported to the police. A party of police officers which included Cpl Mitchell, Ag Cpl Fuentes and PC Vialva responded and later arrested four suspects who appeared on an ID parade.

A MASSIVE police-army search was launched in South Trinidad yesterday after a policeman was attacked by a group of unknown assailants who then kidnapped his female companion. According to police reports, the policeman and his female companion were taking a stroll along Quinam Beach, Siparia, when a group of men emerged from the surrounding undergrowth. The reports said the policeman was dazed by a blow to the head and the men carried the woman off into the bushes. A call was made to the Siparia CID and the National Security helicopter was called in to assist in the search for the abducted woman. Up to press time, police and soldiers were still combing Quinam Beach and environs for the woman and her kidnappers.

A 68-year-old tractor driver who was clearing land about 100 feet away from the North Oropuche River, Valencia, is believed to have drowned, when the tractor rolled into the swollen river. Up until late yesterday no one could say exactly how the tragic death occurred and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday. The tractor remained submerged in the murky river yesterday and efforts were made to have it removed, while the body of Andrew Joseph was retrieved from the cabin of the tractor on Friday night. The body was viewed by a District Medical Officer and removed to the Sangre Grande Mortuary. When Sunday Newsday visited Sant’s Quarry where Joseph worked, workers milled around the premises and expressed sadness over the death. They claimed that Joseph was a hard worker and enjoyed his work. Rambarran Sant, Joseph’s boss, expressed sadness over the death and told Sunday Newsday that Joseph was given the job of clearing away land.

He carried out part of the work early Friday and left around 3.30 pm. Sant said that when Joseph failed to return from the job site a check was made but he was not found. Workers at the quarry made another check and saw the tractor inside the river. A check revealed that the body of Joseph was inside the cabin of the tractor. Officers of the Sangre Grande Police Station were alerted and a party of officers led by Inspector Andrews and including Cpls Mark, Ag Cpl Fuentes, PCs Vialva and others went to the scene. Another tractor driver Lennox Findlay was interviewed by the police and he claimed that the last time that he saw Joseph was around 4 pm when he saw him clearing away the land. At the Phaltoo Trace, Talparo home of the deceased, his wife Ivy Joseph told Sunday Newsday that she only learnt of the death around 9 pm on Friday. She said that her husband usually returned home from work at 7 pm each night and when he did not return on Friday she became worried. She said that she was contacted via telephone on Friday informing her that her husband was missing and a search was being carried out. As tears swelled her eyes the mother of eight described her husband as a good man and an excellent father. She said that he believed in working hard and refused to go into retirement. The soft-spoken woman said that her husband was well known in Talparo and was a singer in East Indian classical songs. He was one of the few non-East-Indians who sang Hindi songs and sang at weddings and functions. She added that everyone was fascinated by the singing skills of her husband. The grieving woman expressed sadness over the death and said that she has lost the light in her life.

A 31-year-old Cunupia man who was allegedly kidnapped on Friday night and a $55,000 ransom demanded for his safe return, was released in Valencia around 3 pm yesterday. Deodath Devannad Subroo walked into the Valencia Police Post yesterday, and told police officers there that he was released by kidnappers. According to reports, the mason of Madras Road, Cunupia was walking close to his home on Friday when he was bundled into a car. He claimed that the men drove around in the car and then called his relatives at midnight on Friday and demanded $55,000. He added that at 3 am on Saturday, the kidnappers again called his relatives and demanded the same amount of money. At the Madras home of Subroo yesterday, relatives expressed relief that he was back home. They added that they are not wealthy people and were not in a position to pay a ransom.

The Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) has received high marks from pharmacists but former Health Minister Dr Hamza Rafeeq said government is simply subsidising cheap over the counter drugs and emphasis should be placed on assisting the public with expensive medication which they are unable to afford. Rafeeq said the “basket” of drugs in the programme for diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure are the cheaper over the counter drugs which members of the public can purchase without having to pay $100 to see a doctor and get a  prescription. He said many of the drugs people need are expensive and these should be subsidised by government. Rafeeq said government seemed to be saying  “we will buy the cheap drugs and you buy the expensive ones yourself.” He said people have been questioning why they cannot get certain drugs free. “This programme is not working all that well,” he said. The programme was introduced last February and expanded last June to include people over 60 years. This increased the total number of people who can benefit to 125,000. However, not all of them will have chronic noncommunicable (eg diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure) diseases that would require medication. CDAP utilises specially designed triplicate prescription pad forms. One copy is retained by the physician, the second by the pharmacy dispensing the drug and the third is forwarded by the pharmacy to NIPDEC to facilitate data.

Wazir Hosein President of the Pharmacy Board said $1.1 million in medicine is currently in the system and the number of people accessing free medication is increasing. There are 240 private pharmacies involved in CDAP. Hosein said there are plans to increase the 20 prescription drugs now available to include drugs for asthma and prostate disease. There are no exact figures available but the number of people using CDAP has been estimated at 9,000. Hosein thinks the programme will encourage more people to attend to their health because now they “have no excuse” not to seek treatment. He admitted that many people may not be au courant (well informed) about the Plan. Another benefit is that CDAP complements the Public Service because pharmacists at clinics and hospitals will have a reduced work load so they will have more time with patients. While the drugs are free, visits to a doctor are not. Questioned about whether visiting a private doctor regularly to get a prescription would be expensive, Hosein said patients can get prescriptions for a three-month supply of medication. He said the programme was designed for “repeats” to save money.

Dr Steve Smith said he has used four prescription pads which total 200 prescriptions. The majority of them were for diabetes and hypertension. He described the programme as helpful. While the drugs available may be limited, he said the “point is that people are assisted by receiving medicines that are available.” He hoped to see a wider range of drugs available especially for arthritic pain and for inflammatory bowel disease. At Critchlow’s Pharmacy there is a good response from people who can’t get their prescriptions filled at hospital dispensaries and those recommended by doctors. Among those accessing the programme are people with a combination of diseases such as glaucoma and high blood pressure. The pharmacist reported that many people still are ignorant of the programme and are informed about it at the pharmacy. “Some will call on the phone because they don’t read the newspapers”, she said. The manager of a pharmacy in south Trinidad said to date the programme has been working well. “The number of prescriptions has been increasing tremendously, people are happy. They come in well equipped with their Identification Card. We send in our invoices and get payment, I think it’s a good idea.” She said doctors are taking “full advantage” in prescribing the items on the list of drugs in the programme. She hoped more items are added to the list.