Moontown

 Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: Mr. Speaker, when one
listens to the members from the other side, one would get
the impression that this land acquisition started with them.
I want to quote here from a plan, the Barbados Plan
of Land at Lower Estate Tenantry and the date it was
certified which is April 30,1992. You are aware, Sir, that
the General Election was on September 6, 1994 and the
plan was actually recorded on October 6,1992. Seeing that
the House would not allow you to quote from something
without making it a document of the House, I would like
to make this plan a document of the House.
This Resolution dealing with this land acquisition is
really unique because it is the policy of the Democratic
Labour Party and we have stated this…
Asides.

Mr. D. St E. KELLMAN: We have stated this since
1980 that we had problems with the Freehold Tenantry Act.
The reason why we had problems with the Freehold
Tenantry Act is not because we did not want the tenants to
get the land, but in some cases you had a situation where
you are taking land from poor people and giving it to other
poor people. We strongly felt that the onus should have
been on the Government to provide the land for those poor
people so that you would not disenfranchise people from
property that they had for their children or their
grandchildren.

This acquisition at Lower Estate is unique. You have
a situation where the Democratic Labour Party acquired the
land and you are speaking about 109 plots. What we are
saying is that an acquisition like this we, under our rural
development plan, and you will hear of rural development
as if it is something new but the Democratic Labour Party
- that’s why you will not see it in our manifesto - because
it has always been a policy of ours and all we have been
doing is expanding on it

That is why we could have gone into St. George and
we could have developed a plan like this which is now a
document of the House and we could have put in roads,
electricity and all of those amenities. We are not talking
about a tenantry where you go and make it a plantation
tenantry, you put down line marks without any roads. You
have a unique situation here where you have all the
amenities you wanted and now you are inviting tenants to
come and enjoy the amenities.

I am saying that my friend, the Honourable Member
for St. James North has a good example of what rural
development is all about. It has been stated by the
Democratic Labour Party. He said it in St. Michael South
last night and on Tuesday last week he was told by the
Honourable Member for St. John that he would have made
my speech a policy speech, and he did it on Saturday, too,
Sir.

I am saying that once the Barbados Labour Party
planned to take our policies and introduce them like how
they are introducing this one today they will have no
problem from me. I will support this, Sir, because I realise
that they understand now what is the true role of a Minister
of Rural Development and they have acknowledged that we
had something good and they are prepared to accept what
we bad planned.

On the roads, Sir. This falls under the land acquisition
because leverage was given for that So I believe I can do
it also. We had planned that by 1995, and there is a plan in
the Ministry, that all the tenantry roads of Barbados would
have been completed. The Minister does not have to worry.
He has the leverage where he can go and fix all the
tenantry roads in Barbados and if anybody criticises him he
can easily say it was the policy of the Democratic Labour
Party and they are following our policy anyhow so he does
not have to worry. We will support him on that
I am also saying that in a development like this 1
would not like to see just houses I would like to see things
like playing fields. I believe there is enough land in
Government that there is enough other land that they can
use, where you can get a church and have some
commercial area because this is the type of rural
development that we in the Democratic Labour Party are…
When we talk about rural development we are talking
about rural development where you have all the amenities
and not just the housing aspect of it.

We are saying today that we will support the
Government on this issue and we have no problem with
this Resolution but we would also like to say that because
someone is prepared to name 23 roads and get up and say
that they will support the Minister, we hope that the
Minister will share the roads and he will not give them all
to one member. Thank you, Sir.

Mr. D. St. E. KELLMAN: Mr. Speaker, as I came to
this Parliament this morning I thought I was dealing with
a housing matter but as I listened to the speeches I have
heard about sidewalks and the narrowness of roads. It
seems it has put it into the ambit now of public transport,
et cetera.

It is true, Sir, that Christ Church is rather far from St.
Lucy and I will not talk about the narrowness of the roads
in Crab Hill, et cetera. I will say that I would like to
compliment the Minister of Transport and Works for
continuing the work that has been left for him to do by the
Democratic Labour Party and I believe that he
will continue to look after the broadening of roads
throughout Barbados and not only in Christ Church. I will
say, Sir, that in the constituency which I am proud to
represent we will support him in broadening the roads and
we would expect him to do some in our constituency also.
So we have no problem on this side in supporting this land
acquisition that is before us today, Sir. Thank you, Sir.

School children and other visitors enjoy learning about the ship in the Lifeboat Theatre as part of the Welcome Experience on Logos Hope.

PRESS RELEASE: Logos Hope is the new replacement vessel for Logos II which last visited Dominica four years ago. This new ship, now the world’s largest floating book fair, features a whole deck designed for visitors to experience.

From the moment people step on board, they will receive a warm welcome and have an opportunity to watch a short introduction to the new ship in the Lifeboat Theatre.

After this Welcome Experience, which includes interactive displays that show different parts of the ship such as a cabin and a replica of the ship’s bridge console, visitors will move into the all new book fair where they can explore over 7,500 different book and CD titles available at affordable prices. The books cover a wide range of subjects such as science, technology, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts and philosophy. A large selection of higher education textbooks is available as well as many books for children.

From the book fair visitors will have opportunity to walk through the brand new Journey of Life exhibition which invites viewers to consider the choices we all face along life’s journey. From there visitors can enjoy the International Café which offers an affordable snack or a beverage in a comfortable, relaxed environment and the opportunity to meet one of the international crew members or enjoy some live entertainment.

You will NOT want to miss the exciting programme of events and seminars for the whole family! Highlights include
-    Pastors Forum Sat 22nd May at 2:00pm (15EC)
-    FREE Grand opening gospel concert (Bayfront) Sat 22nd May at 7:30pm (sponsored by DBS radio & Arden sound)
-    HOPE FOR CHANGE Parade Sun 23rd May meet at 12:30pm @ Newtown Savannah
-    Youth Event Sat 29th May at 6:00pm (5EC)
Grab your very own copy of the event programme from the Logos Hope office at 36 Federation Drive, Goodwill.

Logos Hope will be open to the public at Cruise Ship Berth from 12:00 pm on Saturday, 22nd through to Sunday, May 30th 2010 except for Tuesday, May 25th the ship will be berthed at Woodbridge Bay port  from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm.

Opening times are as follows:    Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 9:30 pm
Sunday – Monday 2:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Saturday, May 22nd 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm

The all-volunteer crew and staff comprise of over 400 people representing 45 different nations who offer a unique example of unity in cultural diversity. Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V., an international, charitable organization registered in Germany. In 40 years of service, the organisation has welcomed 40 million visitors up the gangways in over 160 countries and territories around the world. The ship is hosted in this region by OM Caribbean. Main Sponsors for this years visit are LIME. Secondary sponsors include IGA Supercentre,Western Union, First Domestic Insurance and Voice of Life Radio.

- Logos Hope

Prof Courtenay Bartholomew

The Medical Research Center (MRC) was established in 1980 by Professor Courtenay Bartholomew, Professor of Medicine of the University of the West Indies, with research on viruses, specifically hepatitis viruses A & B, and retroviruses. It is a non-governmental, non-university, non-profit organisation.

The first cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported from the U.S. in June 1981. In 1983 the MRC diagnosed the first cases of HIV/AIDS in the Commonwealth Caribbean. In November of that year, in collaboration with Dr. Bisram Mahabir of the Queen’s Park Counseling Centre, they researched 100 male homosexuals in Trinidad and Tobago and found that as many as 40 per cent of that cohort were already positive for the AIDS virus and 25 per cent of them were bisexual. However, today most patients are heterosexual.

The MRC
The MRC is by far the largest AIDS treatment and research centre in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Its staff comprises 22 members of which four are doctors, six are nurses, including a nurse counselor and a social worker, a data entry clerk, two pharmacists and three laboratory technologists for the on site modern laboratory.

Previously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the USA, since 2003 it is now totally funded by the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago and all services and treatment are free to the patients.

On an average 100 patients attend the clinic every day while 50 new patients are seen every month. The youngest patient is 13 years old and the oldest is 86! However, the majority of the infections are in the 26-55 year age group with a high percentage among young females (see graph). As of April 30, 2010, there was a total of 5,300 patients, (2,700 females/2,600 males). . To put this in an international perspective, the Johns Hopkins AIDS Clinic, for example, has slightly fewer patients.

AIDS. A multi-organ disease
Because patients with HIV/AIDS may present to the doctor with diseases of any organ of the body, the care of these patients also calls for a specialist in general medicine or infectious diseases (preferably the former).

For example, the first clinical presentation of patients may be heart complaints, lung infections, gastrointestinal problems, kidney failure, endocrinological diseases, spinal cord and neurological symptoms, et cetera.

Among the most common neurological presentations are strokes, frequently due to brain abscesses, however, most are successfully treated with drugs with no subsequent legacy of any paralysis.

Immune deficient patients are prone to develop cancers and 73 patients have presented with cancers of various organs of the body. There have been 23 different cancers including cancers of the cervix, uterus, breast, colon, gall bladder, lymph glands and others. In fact, in days of old, it was said: “Know syphilis and you will know medicine,” but it may well be said today: “Know HIV/AIDS and you will know medicine.”

It is believed that there is no disease which has a more complicated long-term drug regimen than HIV/AIDS. Moreover these patients have to take many tablets for life. Sometimes the side effects are intolerable but if there is anything less than a 95 per cent compliance rate, drug-resistant viruses readily develop which can cause serious morbidity and mortality.

The prevention of the spread of drug-resistant viruses in Trinidad and Tobago is one of the major concerns of the MRC. In the United States and Europe, for example, which started triple-drug cocktail therapy for HIV/AIDS at least a decade before Trinidad and Tobago, 15 per cent of their patients who present to AIDS treatment centers for the very first time have been found to be carrying drug-resistant viruses, which they have inherited from sexual partners who were poorly compliant with their drugs although they themselves have never had treatment before.

Hepatitis B co-infection
In a study of 4,454 randomly selected healthy people in Trinidad and Tobago in 1982, done by MRC researchers at that time, namely, Dr. Maria Bartholomew, Dr. Anthony Kalloo (now a consultant gastroenterologist in Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA), and Dr. Fenton DeFour, it was found that the infection rate of hepatitis B, a sexually-transmitted disease, was very high with a steady increase in prevalence with age, ranging from 7.3 per cent in the 10-15 age group to 52.3 per cent in those over 60 years. Many of them had no symptoms whatsoever and were unaware of their infection. However, evidence of past infection was shown by the presence of hepatitis B antibodies in the blood. Thirty four (0.7 per cent) of the population studied had no antibodies but were found to be persistent carriers of the virus and were therefore infectious to their sexual partners.

On the other hand, in a study of 3,426 of HIV/AIDS patients attending the MRC between 1983 and 2009, as many as 8 per cent were also found to be carriers of the hepatitis B virus in addition to the HIV virus.

Hepatitis B carriers are prone to develop cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancers in later life. Fortunately, however, the hepatitis B virus behaves like a retrovirus in its multiplication cycle and there are certain antiretroviral drugs which are used for HIV/AIDS and which are also effective in restricting the multiplication of the hepatitis B virus.

Rape and pregnancy cases
The MRC sees rape cases for immediate investigation and treatment if necessary, and to date, 785 such cases were seen. Fortunately, only 2 (0.2 per cent) were found to be infected by the rapists (63 of the rapists were “considerate” enough to use a condom!).

The centre also sees all HIV positive pregnant women who are treated before and during delivery of their babies. They are largely referred from the Maternity Unit of the Port of Spain General Hospital. So far 902 such mothers were seen and with a recent regime of treatment since 2008 only one per cent of mothers have given birth to HIV-positive babies. However, without treatment the HIV positive rate of babies would be around 23 per cent.

Late presenters
What is disturbing, however, is that in 2003, 37 per cent of the HIV/AIDS patients attending the MRC for the first time came with late stage disease.

Unfortunately up to the end of 2009, almost the same percentage of patients has came for the first time to the centre with late stage disease. (see table)

It is obvious, therefore, that stepped-up education programs should be promoted by the Ministry of Health to advise patients to be tested early and to seek care and treatment immediately after discovering their HIV status, especially since those who present late have a higher mortality rate. In spite of that, however, the MRC has recently participated in a collaborative study on mortality rates with the HIV/AIDS centers in Barbados, Haiti, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico and the results have shown that its mortality rate is the lowest of all - 10 per cent after five years.

Natural viral suppressors
The MRC is at present involved in many research projects but the one that is probably most interesting is the discovery that 23 of their patients who have been infected with HIV for many years still maintain normal immune systems, although being HIV positive without treatment for many years; two of them after at least 10 years of infection and 11 after 5 years of infection.

These patients are called “natural viral suppressors” and are evoking considerable interest in the scientific world of AIDS.

The centre is now collaborating with Dr. Robert Gallo’s team in Baltimore in an attempt to find out why these patients are to date apparently “immune” to the lethal effects of the virus. As one science journal wrote: “This extraordinary finding provides hope that HIV infection may be durably controlled and that the development of a vaccine that prevents disease progression may be possible.” (Trinidad Express)

Joel Julien joel.julien@trinidadexpress.com

THE People’s National Movement (PNM) will be presenting its 2010 election manifesto tomorrow, according to party officials.

The manifesto entitled ’Caring about you today and tomorrow’ will be unveiled at the ballroom of the Hilton Trinidad in St Ann’s at 10 a.m.

Not many changes are expected to be made to the PNM’s 2001 manifesto when the party came into office and the Vision 2020 plan was presented.

Those policies are a part of the PNM administration’s plan to have this country achieve developed nation status by the year 2020.

Vision 2020 has been the foundation of PNM manifestos since 2001.

Several highlights of the PNM’s 2010 manifesto were revealed in advertisements placed in the Express yesterday and today.

On the issue of housing, the PNM is promising to build over 6,000 houses at 64 different sites before the end of this year.

In an effort to improve this country’s health sector the PNM has promised to build new hospitals across the country-including in Arima, Sangre Grande, Point Fortin, San Fernando and Port of Spain, and two 200-bed dialysis centres.

The party has also promised to build a computerised Licensing Office in September which will allow for drivers permits to be renewed in 15 minutes.

A new terminal building will be opened at Crown Point airport in Tobago, the PNM has promised.

The PNM is the first of the two major political parties to state when their manifesto will be presented to the public.

On Friday night while speaking at a People’s Partnership political rally, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) said their 2010 manifesto was still at the printers. The release date for the People’s Partnership manifesto is still to be revealed. (Trinidad Express)

Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau

A one-man protest yesterday briefly interrupted the People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago rally and presentation of candidates at Market Square, Scarborough.

Lambeau resident Samuel McLatchie had to be removed by police officers and was jeered by party supporters.

The rally began after McLatchie was removed from the compound.

McLatchie said he was upset with the PNM led by Patrick Manning and the members of his party. He said the party lacks good governance.

’I do not think Mr Manning and his party represent the people of Trinidad and Tobago. They are a small group of people controlling large sums of money and wasting it, and they defending it instead of apologising and trying to do better,’ McLatchie said.

EVICTED: Tobago resident Samuel McLatchie, centre, armed with a placard, is escorted by police officers from a PNM meeting yesterday at Market Square, Scarborough, Tobago, where the political party launched its campaign for the May 24 general election. -Photos: Elizabeth Williams

He said up to now the Calder Hart issue had not been properly addressed by the Prime Minister and the Scarborough Hospital was still being constructed. He said since the PNM has not been working he wondered what difference they will make after the election.

Despite the disturbance, Manning said when he looked at the crowd he was sure of victory in the two Tobago seats. He made no mention of the protester.

’When I see this audience, my eye get long. I don’t want one seat, my dear friends, I want two, Tobago West and Tobago East. I see the maturity of the PNM when the present candidates and former representatives endorse each other,’ Manning said.

Two new candidates will be contesting the May 24 polls, as both Stanford Callender and Rennie Dumas were replaced by Terrence Williams and Gizel Thomas-Roberts, respectively.

Manning said while political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar was trying to interfere with the Tobago House of Assembly, the PNM in Trinidad does not meddle in Tobago House of Assembly business.

’(THA Chief Secretary) Orville London could get up and tell you, that no PNM Prime Minister interferes with the House of Assembly. The Tobago House of Assembly is a Tobago matter. Tobago conducts its own affairs, it has nothing to do with the Government in Port of Spain. I am not concerned with that, as long as they (THA) don’t break the law,’ Manning said.

Manning told the crowd they know what they have, and, as for the other side, they don’t know what they would get. (Trinidad Express)

-AS
Monday, May 10th 2010

WHILE thousands of mothers across the country celebrated Mother’s Day, 30-year-old Madhurie Dourgah was plunged into mourning after five members of her family were killed in a fire which partially destroyed their Barataria home during the early hours yesterday.

’This is the worst Mother’s Day gift any mother could receive,’ she told the Express at the scene before breaking down into tears.

The victims are Madhurie’s two children, Nivon Bobby David, 11, and 22-month-old Christianna Dourgah, including the children’s grandparents Taramatie Sirju-Dourgah, 56, and Ranchan ’Bellies’ Dourgah, 54, and the couple’s son-in-law Titus Joel Gabriel, 27.

’I want them back. I can’t live to see meh two children get big. Oh gosh I ain’t going and get no grandchildren. Bobby, come back, please don’t go and leave me. Come back to me, Bobby. I can’t live, meh children gone. Oh God,’ she cried as she attempted to look at their bodies which were being taken away by undertakers in a van.

Madhurie said it was fortunate that she and her younger brother, Herman, were not at home when the fire broke out.

’I was liming with my younger brother, Herman Dourgah, when I get a call from a friend of mine (about the incident) and we leave one time and I come and I see it. My heart real weak. My heart too weak to say anything. We don’t know what may have caused it at this time,’ the distraught mother said.

An unidentified woman who consoled Madhurie interjected, ’She is my friend and this is the worst gift any mother, I myself is a mother, could receive this time of the morning. It is not nice. Whoever do it I hope that God deal with it himself, because it make no sense fighting violence with violence right now.’

The infant was found in a hallway. The other bodies were found lying on a bed in the back bedroom, police said.

Police believe the victims died from smoke inhalation after they were trapped inside their home.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted on the bodies of the victims at the Forensic Science Centre, St James later today. (Trinidad Express)

Akile Simon akile.simon@trinidadexpress.com

FIVE PEOPLE, including two children, died in a fire at the home of a known United National Congress (UNC) activist, which police and fire officials believe was deliberately set.

Around 1.45 a.m. yesterday, a loud explosion startled residents of Sixth Avenue, Barataria.

The explosion ignited a car parked close to the entrance of an apartment where Ranchan ’Bellies’ Dourgah, 54, lived with his wife, Taramatie Sirju-Dourgah, 56, grandchildren Nivon Bobby David, 11, and 22-month-old Christianna Dourgah, and their son-in-law Titus Joel Gabriel, 27.

The wooden entrance of the apartment, an annex to a house occupied by other members of the Dourgah family, quickly caught fire, trapping the five victims inside. The apartment did not have any fire escape and only one entrance.

Residents and relatives tried to douse the flames with buckets of water and hoses before the Fire Service arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze and found the bodies of the five victims.

MOTHER’S DAY GRIEF: Madhurie Dourgah, left, is consoled by a relative at the scene of the fire which claimed the lives of her two children, her parents and husband at their Sixth Avenue, Barataria, home yesterday. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

In an immediate response, the Police Service stated that an investigation had been launched but noted ’as it is still very early in the investigation, no motive or cause of the fire has been determined’.

The release stated that investigators ’are awaiting a report from the Fire Service which will determine the cause of the fire…No motive has yet been determined for the cause of the fire’.

But, officers of the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT), who later arrived on the scene, issued flyers to residents seeking information. The flyers, were headed ’Suspected Homicide’ in red and appealed to persons who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Arouca Homicide at 640-7815 or 640-1738.

Police yesterday cordoned off the crime scene and brought in a mobile police booth to preserve the apartment where Crime Scene Investigators and members of the Fire Service prevention unit are expected to return today to search for clues. Fire officers at the scene yesterday did not rule out arson.

At the scene yesterday villagers described the incident as being politically motivated but that has been dismissed by both the UNC and PNM candidates for the area.

One man, who identified himself only as a close relative of Ranchan Dourgah, told the Express that Ranchan, a well-known political activist for the UNC, had been threatened by a group of men, hours before the incident.

He said Ranchan was one of the organisers of a walkabout in the constituency on Saturday, hosted by UNC candidate Dr Fuad Khan.

The man said after Ranchan returned from the walkabout he got into an argument with a group of men who were liming at a public playing field near his house.

’They (Ranchan and group) come back and they was liming there (near the mango tree) and the young boys and them … say ’boy we go burn down all yuh (expletive used) house and thing. All ah all yuh is UNC and them.’’

He said Ranchan had an exchange of words with the boys before heading home.

However, People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for San Juan/Barataria, Joseph Ross, as well as his political opponent, Khan, who visited the scene expressed their sadness over the incident and they disputed that it was linked to the current election campaign.

Ross said that he knew the Dourgah family for quite sometime and their political differences had nothing to do with their friendship.

’I am very, very saddened over this incident. These are people that I know extremely well. I grew up with them we played cricket, we played football. So it is really and truly like a family of mine. Put it that way, that has been destroyed by the incident. So I feel it for those who have survived, particularly the daughter.’

Told that information in the area was that the fire was linked to Ranchan’s support of his political opponent, Ross said that was not true and accused the reporter of making up the story.

’Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense. I got another story a while ago stating that this is gang related and drug related. Again, we do not know and I don’t think we should come to these kinds of assumption. Those people who support me are very, very peaceful and as a matter of fact, we are not involved in that at all, at all, at all. I know the people very well as I said. We sit, we talk despite we share different political views, so that is far from our thoughts to get involved in such kinds of behaviour. This is a very close-knit community despite our little (political) differences,’ Ross said.

Khan also expressed his shock over the incident, saying that Ranchan and members of his family had earlier attended a political walkabout in the area.

’Up to yesterday, I was right here speaking to Ranchan and his wife. In fact, his little grand daughter was on the walk with me. When I heard about this and I really couldn’t believe it. I really at a lost for words as to what would cause this.’

’I want to say definitely I don’t think this is political because we have been here for 1995, 2001, 2002 and now again. We have won the seat right through and this never occurred and there is no reason for this to occur now so I want to tell the general public that I personally don’t think this is political. So if anybody is saying it is political, which I have been hearing, I don’t share that view. Sometimes there may be other factors that we don’t know about.’ He promised to meet with Ross to see what assistance they can give to the surviving members of the family.

’This is shocking to me. It is extremely shocking that something like this have occurred and during the election period, he was one of my very good strongest activists here and it is sad, it’s sad,’ Khan said.

Snr Supts Theophilus Cummings, David Nedd, Wayne Dick including Supt Stephen Ramsubhag, and Insps Jayson Forde, Radcliffe Boxhill, Mahabir along with Sgts Eric Parks, Hosein and Ramjohn, Cpls Gosine and Rowley visited the scene.

Forde of the Region II Homicide Bureau is investigating. (Trinidad Express)