Deyalsingh made this disclosure in response to a question in the House of Representatives.

He said this figure can be broken down into diabetes ($3.5 billion), hypertension ($3.2 billion) and cancer ($2 billion).

Deyalsingh said the Government will launch its new national NCD strategy on Wednesday.

Responding to a question from Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh, Deyalsingh said the strategy will focus on the early detection and treatment of lung, cervical, colo-rectal and prostate cancer. The minister said more needs to be done to catch cancer in its early stages for the benefit of both the patient and the health sector in general.

Deyalsingh also outlined steps being taken to improve service at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mt Hope.

And literature plays a huge part in reflecting social reality, fostering understanding and shaping our conception of how the world can and should be. Do not underestimate the power of the pen.

Therefore, events like the recently- concluded NGC Bocas Lit Fest are essential if we aspire to drive development as a country.

Over the course of five days, participants __ including those gathered at multiple venues such as the Old Fire Station and NALIS, Port of Spain, and beyond and thousands of others tuning-in online __ were treated to a range of panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, workshops and open-mic events that featured writers, poets, essayists, artists, politicians, trade unionists and more.

The festival’s claim to being the Caribbean’s largest literary festival has long been justified. This year, however, it expanded its reach even further with CineLit: its Latin American and Caribbean film screening program.

All of this has been organised in such a way as to remain free to the public.

The increasing sprawl of festival events is one indicator of the success of the festival. Another is the fact of renewed global recognition of Caribbean writers who have long placed the region on the literary map.

The festival was held this year in the wake of the death of Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, but poets came out in droves as if to prove that poetry is not dead. The overall winner of the OCM 2017 Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature was on Saturday night announced as Kei Miller for his beautifully-wrought novel Augustown.

For Miller, this achievement as a novelist comes just three years after his winning of the Forward Prize for his poetry collection The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion. He continues a long tradition of poets being story-tellers, bringing to life news that always stays news. He is not alone as the full line-up of this year’s festival demonstrated.

While there was some debate at the festival this year over whether literature and ideology should mix, we note that the question is a non-starter.

For, as Yusef Komunyakaa once said, language is inherently political.

There is little else that could be more radical than being a writer or an artist, especially in this society.

The issue then becomes a question of not whether artists should say anything political but whether they should produce good art. And good art will never be art that is morally compromised, that perpetuates tropes of misogyny, prejudice, homophobia and hate. While activism and art are separate, neither hurt one another. And it is wrong to dismiss art that is socially-engaged.

Art that responds to life and its challenges is art that has a moral conscience.

This has nothing to do with the quality of the art, which is a matter of subjective taste. Rather it has everything to do with our condition of being. A socially-engaged artist is simply the fulfillment of the social contract.

This year’s festival featured important panel discussions on issues such as human rights, press freedom and LGBTQI rights. Of note was a call from Colin Robinson, the poet and lobbyist who leads CAISO, for politicians to fulfill their responsibility when it comes to the rights of the LGBTQI. Robinson once more pointed out that legislators need not enact ambitious reforms but can make simple, small changes that are not strategically risky in order to start the ball rolling.

We congratulate all who played a hand in bringing about this year’s festival __ the seventh __ and those who contributed to its wealth of ideas and to its beauty. We also commend the decision of the State __ specifically the Ministry of Community Development and the Arts __ to become a main sponsor, ensuring more editions of this vital festival.

Dead are Jonathon Moonsammy, 32, of Vistabella and Devon Blackman, 32, of Moruga.

Moonsammy was one of the persons currently before the court charged with the 2005 kidnapping of toddler Saada Singh who was abducted from the Giselle Montessori School. Three others have also been charged with the kidnapping of the then three-year-old girl.

Moonsammy was shot in the abdomen at Solomon Street, Vistabella, at about 7 pm. According to police reports, Moonsammy was liming with a group of friends when two men approached them and began shooting.

Moonsammy ran a short distance away before he collapsed on the roadway. Residents said yesterday Moonsammy was originally from Crawford Street, Vistabella, and moved out of the area several years ago.

They said they did not know much about him and could not say much about what transpired on Saturday night.

Four hours later, Blackman was shot twice in the head as he sat in front of his home at Ramdhanie Trace, Indian Walk, Moruga.

Police reports said a man walked up to Blackman and asked him for change for a $100 bill. Police said while Blackman was looking for cash in his pockets, the man pulled out a gun and shot him in the head before running away.

Blackman was the father three children including a one- month old baby boy.

At the family’s home yesterday, Blackman’s father, Henry, 67, said his son did not deserve to die that way and did not know of any reason why someone would want to kill his son. “I don’t know why they would want to kill him, but now they left a young baby without a father.” The elder man said he was watching television when he heard an explosion and when he went to see what it was he saw his son sitting on the chair bleeding.

“He was not moving I knew he was dead,” Blackman said.

He said his son was hard working and family oriented.

“He had plans to extend the house and he already started. This is really sad for us,” the elder man said.

Investigations are continuing.

Additionally, they are also demanding the absorption of Special Reserved Police officers into the TT Police Service (TTPS).

President of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Inspector Michael Seales and secretary, acting ASP Anand Ramesar delivered their proposals to Chief Personnel Officer Beresford Riley shortly after 12.45 pm on Friday.

The Association is hoping that the proposals are approved quickly by the CPO so that negotiations could begin in quick time.

Contacted yesterday, Ramesar confirmed that the proposals were delivered. He said he was eagerly awaiting a response from the CPO.

“Upon the directive of the membership at the general council meeting held on Thursday, the president and his executive were directed to file salary proposals with the CPO for the period 2014 to 2016 by 3 pm Friday.

The membership has signalled that the time has come for salaries to be increased to meet the increasing cost of living, including proposed property tax,” he told Newsday.

He said it was the Association’s view that police officers are due for an increase.

Ramesar said the PSWA’s membership all agreed with the proposals submitted to the CPO and warned that they will tolerate any delay in the start of negotiations.

“We are in a difficult time where police officers need to work and we are calling on the government to ensure that the CPO is not allowed to offer any foolish counter proposals,” he said, adding that the association will not be distracted by any ridiculous counter proposal.

Seales told Newsday that it was the hope of the Association that the CPO enters the negotiating process in good faith since, according to him, the Government at this time requires a Police Service that delivers quality at the highest standard.

“The Association agrees with the government but they must pay for that service. It cannot be the old paradigm where you ask for more but refuse to pay for it.

There is a great expectation by officers that a fair approach is taken that is synonymous with compensation,” Seales said.

He also disclosed that apart from the 13.5 percent salary increase, the Association has also asked for special compensation for SRPs as well as for the start of the process to have them (SRPs) absorbed into the TTPS.

Sinanan yesterday said he was deeply concerned after he was informed that two workers with Lutchmeesingh Transport Contractors Limited on the site was shot on Friday night. Police sources also confirmed the incident.

Newsday was informed that the workers are warded at hospital.

Workers also said they were threatened by residents for a ‘cut.’ Sinanan confirmed that work resumed yesterday but with a heavy police presence at the site which will be maintained until the completion of the project.

“Throughout the course of the project we intend to maintain a heavy police present at the worksite. We’ve received complaints from workers and contractors that they won’t return to work until the area is secure so this is something we’re taking very seriously,” he said.

“It’s been reported that contractors are being approached by certain elements from the Beetham for money but we can’t confirm these reports at this time,” he said.

He was hopeful that incident does not affect the completion date for the project since work is being done on weekends to minimise the discomfort for commuters during the week.

Lutchmeesingh’s Transport Contractors Ltd has threatened to withdraw their services from the project unless police can guarantee their protection at the worksite.

The Minister spoke as he continued his tour of the constituencies of East Port-of- Spain, Laventille and Diego Martin.

He said Government was formulating a plan to treat with issues of infrastructural development and roadworks repair within these communities and will continue similar tours throughout all constituencies in Trinidad.

“There are several key challenges to different areas and we’re working to see how best we can treat with these challenges. It’s important that we assess the areas which are in urgent need of infrastructural development.

We’ve already visited six constituencies along the East- West corridor and we intend to continue with our weekend visits to all constituencies,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain South Marlene Mc- Donald expressed optimism that the tour would yield results and echoed Sinanan’s sentiments that the repair of roads within the community were long overdue and lauded the Works Minister for taking the initiative.

‘’I have already identified several roads and streets in the community of East Port-of- Spain which are in dire need of repair. I’m very optimistic that today’s walk around will be something good for all of the people in Portof- Spain.

They are claiming that those persons in the hierarchy in the elite agency are offering top positions to friends and have been overlooking existing staff who are being forced to be re-assessed in their current positions.

The SSA officers said that while they have to undergo several tests and are being asked for certain qualifications several outsiders have now begun to be employed as intelligence officers while they are being bypassed and in some instances they have been asked to take pay cuts.

Officers said that the SSA led by Retired Colonel George Robinson are not giving existing employees any chance of moving up in the Organisation.

Newsday understands that a Human Resources Agency named PROFILES was contracted to manage the entire re-evaluation of staff.

Firstly, a psychometric evaluation, a written examination, a polygraph, then an interview before a panel and finally a medical examination were required.

According to SSA sources staff of PROFILES were always late, did not have the necessary stationery or manpower to properly conduct assessments.

Staff questioned whether there was a tendering process for the selection of PROFILES and “if any other companies were bypassed because of alleged favours”.

According to sources, not all staff have gone through the full re-evaluation process. “People from outside of these organisations have already completed all the phases and have been employed with contract in hand to lucrative positions”.

Yesterday some of the SSA employees said that there is a situation where some of their colleagues who have international training have been told that they are not qualified to do the said jobs, while reassessment of existing jobs which require a Bachelor’s Degree to a pay grade less than a job that requires 5 O’Level CXC/CSE C/GCE subject and a minimum of five to seven year’s experience in crime and security.

“It seems very questionable to hire outside when staff with long and dedicated service are being overlooked”. “Did the CSO approve these positions or is this the avenue to give the boys high paying jobs for loyalty? questioned SSA officers yesterday.

Newsday was also told that the executive of the SSA is littered with Colonels, Majors and most of the former SIA hierarchy.

Officers are calling for the resignation of Colonel Robinson and his team which includes Colonel Bridgewater (Asst Director), Major Best Asst Director, Major Roger McClean (Asst Director) Dr Lenore Winchester (Asst Director), Ms Denise Farray (Manager Counter Intelligence), Mr Clint Eligon Special Adviser.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Garcia said all the supervisors have been trained, testers have been given their assignments through training, and everything is in place to ensure that there are no hiccups.

“I want to make the point that our objective is to achieve the success that we had last year where there was not a single cause for concern during the SE A examination. We are working toward repeating that success,” he said.

Garcia also noted that the Chief Education Officer together with the Director of School Supervision, and Curriculum officers have been visiting schools to ensure that the physical infrastructure is adequate for the students’ comfort.

The minister also assured that work is being done at the Cunupia Government Primary School where there was an electrical fire in one of the air-conditioning units recently.

“The electrical inspectorate has been on board…Our experts from the ministry of Education and EFCL they have also been on board, and I have been assured that everything is okay for the children to write the exam on Thursday at the school.” President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Lindsay Doodhai said the association has been told that all schools are ready for the SE A examination.

Meanwhile, the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) has also activated a hotline service to ensure that there are no interruptions to the electricity service at Secondary Entrance Examination Centres on the day of the examination.

A statement from TTEC saod from 3 pm on Wednesday to 3 pm on exam day, principals and supervisors can call or text the T and TEC hotline at 794-4823 or 794-7264 to report any disruption in their electricity service or any electrical safety concerns.

According to reports, Bengochea, 36, a body builder and the 2015 National Junior Men’s Physique Champion, drowned at the Balandra beach in Toco on Saturday, The father of two was said to have gone swimming with a group of friends when he encountered difficulties while in the water. As his friends tried to pull him out of the water he was said to begin losing consciousness and slipped underneath the water.

He was taken to shore where attempts were made to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Eye on Dependency – producers of the film Trafficked – said they were shocked and extremely pained to learn of Bengochea’s death.

“Brett convincingly played Alejandro, the Spanish-speaking, charming and seductive stranger that leads Penny, George and Nadia to their respective fates in the true story about drug trafficking.

“We extend condolences to his family and friends, knowing this time is among the most difficult they will all face. We will remember Brett as an actor committed to the craft, who was beautiful on screen and made the role of Alejandro his own,” the Facebook post read.

In another post on Facebook, actress and producer Gina Parris offered her condolences to the actor’s family.

“Today I lost a friend of mines (sic) named Brett Bengochea who also acted in my show. A young, strong talented man. The news hit me so hard, I got an anxiety attack and chest pain and it made me realise how fragile life can be. We know that death will come to us and touch our lives but when it does it’s always a blow.

“I hope my loss today will remind you all to reach out to your loved ones, friends, family and give them some love because we are here today and we can be gone in any moment in the blink of an eye. I am very heart broken over the news. However, I am grateful that I knew Brett and that he had a role in my life I think I was truly blessed by that. For those in the group that know Brett my condolences to you at this time of grief,” she wrote.

The Trinidad and Tobago Performing Arts Network also extended their deepest condolences to Bengochea’s family, friends and colleagues.

Brett was the son of Sandee Bengochea, a presenter of Enriching Family Life on TCN, who once co-wrote the Family Matters column of the Catholic News. She also previously worked at the now defunct Trinidad and Tobago Television ((TTT).

Thirty-seven first time authors were selected for honours at the function last Wednesday.

Minister of Public Administration and Communications, Maxie Cuffie in delivering the feature address said literature had done a lot for the country which has produced three Nobel prize winners in the persons of VS Naipaul; Sir Derek Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis who won the prize in Economics.

Cuffie told the first time authors that when they write and are published, they add to a rich store of information of the country and every book that is written and published adds to that historical store and further cements the country’s history.

He said this year the country was recognising a special first time author, its Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, although he noted that he was not the first prime minister to be published while in office. He said that the late Dr Eric Williams also published his autobiography, Inward Hunger, the Education of a Prime Minister, while he was Prime Minister.

He observed that this year NALIS is recognising the author, Michael Anthony, for his work Green Days by the River, which is to be made into a movie scheduled for release in September.

He said this will go even further in establishing the literary presence of the country’s authors.

Cuffie said the 37 first time authors will add to Trinidad and Tobago’s 267 already published writers, telling them their names will be forever etched into the country’s history and they will be recognised internationally. Cuffie advised the authors to get a number from the International Standard Book Numbering System (ISBN), saying that when they have such a number in their books it means that they have the support of a recognised publisher and it is much easier to get their books sold locally and internationally and purchased by libraries. Acting deputy executive director of NALIS Catherine Romain said the ISBN numbers are available at the National Library.

Among those present was former Newsday editor, John Babb, who represented Suzanne Mills. Suzanne was to be honoured for completing work on the book Byline — Memoirs of Therese Mills, a work begun by her mother, Newsday’s late editor-in-chief.

Babb recalled that he and Therese Mills were friends since 1946 when they worked together at the Port-of-Spain Gazette, adding that Mills would later start the Newsday, confounding the naysayers who insisted that three daily newspapers would not survive in the local media market.

This is the view of retired head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas as he weighed on the controversy.

Dumas said yesterday based on information that has come to light in recent days it appears that both Ayers-Caesar and Chief Justice Ivor Archie should take responsibility for the situation.

“I find the whole thing very unfortunate,” he said. “Mrs Ayers-Caesar is quoted as saying that she should have told the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) that she had matters outstanding and the Chief Justice has chastised her by saying that she did not manage her transition from the Magistracy to the High Court well.

“It looks as though she is taking the blame,” he said.

“My feeling is that there are faults on both sides.

“First if I am interviewing somebody for a job I am going to try and make sure that I have as much information as possible in front of me so that I can question the person particularly to what was at stake.

“I would want to see not only whether she had matters outstanding, I would certainly like to know about the matters that she has disposed of already, the judgements that she have given to see whether they have held up or whether they were challenged in the High Court or anywhere else, which means I will have all this detailed information in front of me before I prepare to meet with her.” Dumas said the fact that both Ayers- Caesar and the CJ have said that she did not tell the Commission about these matters and was at fault “is not good enough.” “All of this should have been in a file in front of each member of the JLSC so that they could have seen clearly what her record was, not merely whether there were cases left outstanding or not.” Dumas said in his mind Ayers- Caesar has damaged her reputation and credibility.

“Because a lot of people appearing before Mrs Ayers- Caesar will wonder whether they are going to get justice or not.

It is not that she is not capable of dispensing justice but they will say, “If this lady behaviour is so and she did not care about justice for people whose matters are still part-heard, who have been in many cases in jail for several years, why should she care about me?” he said.