Opposition Member of Parliament Geeta Chandan-Edmond was yesterday helped from the podium during a budget debate presentation and taken to the hospital after her speech appeared slurred and incoherent.
Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir told this newspaper last night that Chandan-Edmond was escorted off of the podium by her colleagues after he observed that she was displaying abnormal behaviour.
She smiled and appeared in a jovial mood for the minutes she was at the podium.
He said that as a result of what transpired the Parliamentary Budget Debates were temporarily suspended.
Nadir was heard saying during Chandan-Edmond’s presentation “Honourable Member, would you like to take a break?” to which the Shadow Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance replied, “I will not be long”.
Chandan-Edmond was visibly shaking and uttering words which were hard to decipher which prompted the Speaker to temporarily suspend the 74th sitting of the National Assembly.
The Office of the Leader of the Opposition, also in a press release yesterday said that it wished to advise that during the Budget Debate on January 24th, 2024, when Chandan-Edmond approached the podium to make her contribution, there were notable signs of slurred speech and physical tremors.
According, to the press statement, The Emergency Medical Technician stationed at the National Assembly was called in and recommended that she be immediately transferred to the accident and emergency unit.
The Opposition said that it will update the public on Chandan-Edmond’s condition and said that their thoughts are with her.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the Parliamentarian is currently hospitalized and is recuperating.
