people's lives in future.

Mr. Allan Smith, of Bridge House, St. George's died at the age of 43 in Agape House, the hospice for the terminally ill in September 1991.

And this week his father, Mr. Martin Smith and sister, Mrs. Brenda McLean, applied for the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation to be incorporated as a limited company.

The foundation has a number of aims, to help research into AIDS and HIV, to educate people about the disease and to improve welfare for victims and their families.

Mrs. McLean and Mr. Joe Gibbons, who is also involved in setting up the foundation, refused to go into detail until they have been given limited company status.

But Mr. Gibbons said he hoped an official announcement can be made on World AIDS Day, December 1.

Mr. Smith's father has spoken to groups on the Island about AIDS since his son's death just over a year ago.

He has tried to remove the stigma associated with AIDS victims and their families.

AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 170 people in Bermuda since 1982, with many more people diagnosed as HIV positive.

Drug abusers and the homosexual community on the Island have been devastated by the disease.

A legal notice was published in yesterday's edition of The Royal Gazette which stated the objects of the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation.

It aims to educate everyone involved with HIV and AIDS in matters relating to prevention, causes, origins, transmission and treatment and any related conditions. The foundation will also try to stop the transmission of the disease in Bermuda.

Much of the work of the foundation will be to promote the welfare of victims and their families with counselling and medical care.