Barbados PM falls ill at function

(Barbados Nation) Prime Minister Freundel Stuart collapsed in the reportedly crowded sergeants’ mess of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) headquarters at St Ann’s Fort around 2 p.m yesterday.

He was treated by medical personnel of the BDF, was reportedly declared fine and was able to leave unassisted.

The Prime Minister journeyed to St Ann’s Fort for brunch after attending the traditional military parade on a sun-baked morning at the Bridgetown Port where a number of participants had succumbed to the heat.

This is the second time this year that this country’s seventh Prime Minister has collapsed in public. On January 6, Stuart fell ill in St John after making his presentation at the launch of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) campaign for the January 20 by-election.

On that occasion, Stuart had been in discussion with DLP party faithful when he collapsed just before midnight.

Cabinet minister David Estwick  immediately recommended “something sweet” for the Prime Minister who quickly returned to consciousness.