Either Warner has something on Panday and is allowing him the opportunity to exit the political stage with dignity at the appropriate time or Panday has now acquired some “hot” information on Warner and is prepared to use it if Warner does not tow the line.

In short, some kind of a deal “went down”.

Don’t get me wrong; I am all for unity within the UNC, but it must be done with sincerity, based on principles of mutual understanding and respect and geared towards achieving the best results for the people of the nation.

What took place on Friday December 2, 2005 with Warner’s about-turn was nothing less than obscene.

MPs Dr. Fuad Khan, Gillian Lucky and Gerald Yetming were absolutely correct in boycotting that mockery of unity.

It was indeed a sad day in the politics of Trinidad and Tobago, but as they say, life goes on and the colour of coffee has not changed. After discussing this entire episode with a very good friend of mine, I was told with a wry expression: “Only dogs lick up deh own vomit.”

I will report to the nation as further developments take place.

With World HIV/AIDS Day commentated last Friday, I would like to touch a lot on that topic.

Last month, I received an e-mail relating to a previous article I did on HIV/AIDS. I would like to share its contents with you:

Hello Anderson,

I have read with great interest your article on “HIV/AIDS was born in the USA”.

I must say I am pleased with your boldness.

I am a Ugandan now living in Canada.

I graduated from Harvard School of Public Health, where I once heard about a German scientist who wanted to share empirical facts on the origins of HIV/AIDS (tracing it to the USA labs in their scramble for funds for a small pox vaccine), but to no green light.

He received threats from USA, rejection from WHO and faced closed doors from the poor nations of Africa -- including my own, simply because the United States Government warned against any nation hosting this scientist.

Your article provides a good start and a fertile avenue for some of us interested in exploring more about this disease.

While starting with a sharp and focused cut through, it seems to later meander a bit into short and hard-to-connect notes/outlines.

You assume that many-a-reader will have read through what you have already talked about.

I for one have not.

An example is when you talked of the Icelandic scientists combining the sheep Visna virus with human tissue cells more than 20 years ago.

Is the 20 years flashing back to 2005, or did you mean some years before 2005 (since you ably prove that the virus was formed in the 1970’s), or before?

And a few more: Is it possible that you give more flesh to your good briefs?

I am also interested in furthering my knowledge on this issue: the role of the United Nations in the fight against HIV/AIDS -- organisations such as UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, etc.

Do you think the Impoverished, disease-stricken and war-wrecked African nations can do anything to free themselves of this situation?

Please get back to me.

I will appreciate your response.

Sincerely,
ANDREW SSAWE.

I have replied to Andrew’s e-mail thanking him for his comments and outlining the reasons for brevity in the previous article.

I intend to remain in contact with him to develop the points contained within the article and ensure that the true message gets out.

Readers will be updated as the process takes shape.

For reasons of clarity, in answer to Andrew’s question about the creation of the virus, it was clearly developed and distributed in the 1970s.

I would also like to hit a bit on the FTAA.

Earlier this year, I received an e-mail concerning my article on Port of Spain hosting the FTAA Secretariat.

The contents are as follows:

ANDERSON, your interesting article “Unmasking PoS FTAA hoax” has been brought to my attention because I’m very interested in the CARICOM region in general and TnT in particular.

You may have read my commentaries on the Caribbean Investor website managed by Kelvin Scoon.

First of all, is it possible for you to send me an electronic version of your article at this address?

Secondly, I’m travelling to TnT April 25, for the CTO sustainable tourism conference in Tobago (April 25 - 29).

I will then stop in PoS April 30 - May 4 before returning to Puerto Rico.

It would be nice to meet you and discuss PoS’s FTAA application for the sect and defining the future role of TnT (as well as CARICOM) in the FTAA if it is achieved.

I’ll be stopping at the Marriott courtyard, your consideration appreciated.

John Collins, Contributing Editor Caribbean Business, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

(My articles appear on the Caribbean Investor Website (www.caribbeaninvestor.com) as well as in the archives of Caribbean Business (www.puertoricoWOW.com with some also appearing on www.google.com).

I made contact with John via telephone and the conversations were interesting.

However, we were unable to meet because I was unavailable at the time (prior commitments).

However, I will keep in contact with him as we continue to track the progress made with relation to the creation of the FTAA.

Many thanks to all our readers.

I wish to express my profound gratitude to all those who have e-mailed, called or written to me.

I am humbled by your faith in me, and pledge that I will continue to be impartial, fair, and balanced.

As demonstrated above, our readers come from far and wide and it illustrates the reach that the TnT Mirror has in the international community.

Congratulations to all at the TnT News Centre.

We will continue to educate, entertain, and bring you the story behind the story when it happens.

’Til next week, take care of yourselves.