UNC councillor in critical condition after suspected suicide attempt

Anil Baliram, a local government councillor for Freeport/Chickland, is in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the San Fernando General Hospital following an incident at his home on Sunday morning.

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Today, I received the deeply troubling news surrounding the reported incident involving Anil Baliram, one of the UNC’s longest-serving local government councillors and representative for Freeport/Chickland in the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation, who remains warded in critical condition.

Officers from the Couva Police Station responded to a distress call at Baliram's residence shortly after 8 a.m. Reports indicate that a family member and paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him before he was transported to the Couva District Health Facility. He was later transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital for further medical treatment.

Police are investigating the incident and currently suspect that Baliram, who has served as a local government councillor for at least 16 years, may have attempted suicide. The exact circumstances surrounding the event are still under investigation.

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My thoughts and prayers are with Councillor Baliram, his loved ones, colleagues, and all those affected by this painful and distressing situation.

Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen released a statement expressing her deep concern. "My thoughts and prayers are with Councillor Baliram, his loved ones, colleagues, and all those affected by this painful and distressing situation," she wrote. Ameen noted the shock and concern expressed by many councillors, particularly his colleagues at the Couva Corporation.

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Many of our councillors have expressed shock and concern, with his colleagues at the Couva Corporation especially distressed by the news. We continue to pray for his strength, healing, and speedy recovery.

Ameen highlighted the pressures faced by local government representatives and urged the public to approach the situation with "compassion, sensitivity, and responsibility, particularly on social media." She emphasized the importance of support systems, empathy, and dialogue for individuals facing personal struggles, stating, "Seeking help must never be viewed as weakness."

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Incidents such as this remind us of the emotional, mental, and social pressures many individuals silently carry. I urge the national community to approach this matter with compassion, sensitivity, and responsibility, particularly on social media, while medical professionals and the relevant authorities continue their work.